THE CONIFEES 187 



it is obviously only an adaptation of J . communis to 

 hard mountain conditions. In Juniperus the sexes 

 occur on separate plants; the male flowers occur in the 

 leaf axils ; they are not more than about a line {^^ inch) 

 in length. Small scale-leaves are at the base of each 

 flower, and above them are whorls of stamens consist- 

 ing of scalelike leaves, each bearing from two to four 

 pollen-sacs beneath. The female flowers also grow in 

 the leaf axils; they consist of scale-leaves at the base, 

 succeeded by a whorl of three to six fleshy carpels 

 bearing as many upright ovules. After fertilization 

 the carpels become succulent and cohere above the seeds, 

 which they enclose. The fruit is two years in ripening, 

 and when ripe, presents the appearance of a blue- 

 black berry with a scar, indicating the union of the 

 carpels, at its tip. Oil of Juniper, used in medicine, 

 is extracted from this plant. 



The Cupressinese include about ninety species, some of 

 which are cultivated for ornamental purposes. Among 

 these are the Arbor-Vitse (Thuja), the Cypress [Cufressus 

 sempervirens), found in the Mediterranean region, the 

 Deciduous Cypress {Taxodium distichum) famed for the 

 kneelike roots produced above ground, and the Japanese 

 Umbrella Pine (Sciadopithys verticillata) . Taxodium 

 mexicanum grows in the Mexican highlands, often attain- 

 ing great size. Humboldt estimated that a magnifi- 

 cent specimen, known as the giant tree of Tule, was 

 about 4,000 years old; its proportions may be iinagined 

 from the fact that at a height of 130 feet it was found 

 to be about 120 feet in circumference. Other giant 

 trees belonging to this subfamily are the Sequoias of 

 North America, one of which, Sequoia gigantea, is com- 



