2o6 



MORPHOLOG Y. 



line of the cone is lanceolate, or long oval, and somewhat 

 curved. It measures about \o-\^cm long. If we remove one 



■v^ 



" '1 



■^jc 



Fig, 261. 

 Back of scale 

 with small cover seed free from 

 scale. scale. 



Fig. 262. 

 Winged 



Fig. 260. 

 Seeds have 

 split off from 

 scaJe. 

 Figs. 258-262. — White pine showing details of mature scales and seed. 



of the scales, just as they are beginning to spread, or before the 

 seeds have scattered, we shall find the seeds at- 

 tached to the upper surface at the lower end. 

 There are two seeds on each scale, one at each 

 lower angle. They are ovate in outline, and 

 shaped somewhat like a biconvex lens. At this 

 time the seeds easily fall away, and may be 

 freed by jarring the cone. As the seed is 

 detached from the scale a strip of tissue from 

 the latter is peeled off. This forms a " wing " 

 for the seed. It is attached to one end and is 

 shaped something like a knife blade. On the 

 back of the scale is a small appendage known 

 as the cover scale. 



416. Formation of the female pine cone. — The female 



flowers begin their development rather late in the spring 



of the year. They are formed from terminal buds of 



the higher branches of the tree. In this way the cone 



ma}' terminate the main slioot of a branch, or of the 



Fig. 263. lateral shoots in a whorl. After growth has proceeded 



Female cones of the for Some time in the spring, tlie terminal portion begins 

 pme at time of polhna- r 



lion, about natural size, to assume the appearance of a young female cone or 



