THE PINE 



135 



the stems of various smaller plants. The " berries " of 

 the juniper, which correspond to the ripe carpellate cones of 

 the pine, are used in medicine. 



160. Other Gymnosperms. — Aside from the conifers, there are 

 comparatively few species of gymnosperms now living. The majority 



Fig. 79. — A cycad {Cycas revoluta). 



of these belong to the tropical and subtropical order of cycads, repre- 

 sented in the United States by two species of Zamia which grow in 

 Florida. The cycads have a thick stem, at the top of which is a crown 

 of divided leaves very much like those of some ferns. In general ap- 

 pearance, the cycads are palm-like ; some of them are called " sago 

 palms " because a coarse sago is obtained from their pith. However, 

 their similarity to the palms is misleading, for in many ways the cycads 

 show themselves to be related to the ferns ; and the fossil history of 

 the order is sufficiently complete so that their descent can be traced 



