420 CONIFERS. (riNE FAMILY.) 



Subclass II. GYMNOSPERMiE. 



Pistil represented by an open scale or leaf, or entirely wanting ; 

 the ovules and seeds therefore naked (without a pei'icarp), and fer- 

 tilized by the direct application of the pollen. Cotyledons often 

 more than two. 



Okdek 111. CONIFERiE. (Pine Family.) 



Trees err shrubs, vnth resinous juice, mostly with awl-shaped or needle- 

 shaped entire leaves, and monmcious or dioecious flowers in catkins, destitute 

 of calyx or corolla. Ovules orthotropous. Embryo in the axis of the al- 

 bumen, nearly its length. (Wood destitute of ducts, composed chiefly of 

 a homogeneous large woody fibre which is marked with circular disks on 

 two sides.) An important and rather large Order ; comprising the three 

 following Suborders : — 



SuBOKDER I. ABIETINE.a;. The Pkoper Pine Family. 



Fertile flowers in catkins, consisting of open imbricated carpels in the 

 form of scales in the axil of a bract ; in fruit forming a strobile or cone. 

 Ovules 2, adherent to the base of each carpellary scale, their orifice turned 

 downward. Buds scaly. 



1. PINUS. Leaves 2-5 in a cluster from the axil of a scale-like primary leaf, persistent. 



2. ABIES. LeaTes all scattered on the branches and alilie, persistent. 



3. LARIX Leaves many in a cluster, the primary ones similar, deciduous. 



SunoBDEE II. CUPRESSINEiE. The Cypress Family-. 



Fertile flowers consisting of few carpellary scales, without bracts, bear- 

 ing single or severed erect ovules on their base (the orifice upward), form- 

 ing a closed strobile or a sort of drupe in fruit. Buds naked. 



* Flowers monoecious. Strobile dry, opening at maturity. 



4. THUJA. Fruit of few imbricated oblong scales. Ovules 2 Leaves scale-like, closely im- 



bricated on the flattened branches. 



5. CUPRESSUS. Fruit of several shield-form thickened scales united iu a globular woody 



cone. Seeds 2 or more on the stalk of each scale. Leaves scaJe-hke or awl-shaped. 



6. TAXOBIUM. Fruit of several thickened and rather shield-shaped scales uuited in a globu- 



lar woody cone. Seeds 2 on the base of ea«h scale. Leaves linear, 2-ranked, deciduous. 

 * * Flowers chiefly difficious. Fruit berry-like, not opening. 



7. JXTNIPERUS. Fruit composed of 3 - 6 coalescent 1 - 3-ovuled scales, becoming fleshy. 



Suborder III. TAXINE.^;. The Yew Family. 



Fertile flower solitary, consisting of a naked ovule, ripening into a nut- 

 like or drupe-like seed. Ovary entirely wanting. Buds scaly. 



8. TAXUS. Ovule erect, encircled at the base by an annular disk, which forms a berry-like 



cup around the nut-like seed. 



