268 



MONOCHLAMYDE^ 



I. PiNus (Fir). — Barren flowers, in clustered, scaly catkins, the 

 upper scales bearing sessile anthers ; fertile flowers in an egg-shaped 

 catkin, which finally becomes a woody cone ; seeds winged. (Name, 

 the Latin name of the tree.) 



P. syhestris (Scotch Fir). — A tall, picturesque tree, with reddish 

 bark, and a dense, tufted head. Leaves in pairs, about 2 inches 

 long, surrounded by scales, evergreen. The cones are smaU, sessile, 

 and grow 1-3 together. Wings of the 

 seeds 2 or 3 times as long as the seeds. 

 Indigenous in the Highlands of Scotland, 

 and largely planted elsewhere. 



2. JuNiPERUS (JcUniper). — Barren flowers 

 in scaly catkins ; anthers attached to the 

 base of the scales" ; fertile flowers in cat- 

 kins of a few united scales, which finally 

 become a fleshy herry, containing 3 seeds. 

 (Name, the Latin name of the tree.) 



/. communis (Common Juniper) is a 

 native of aU the northern parts of Europe, 

 and in Great Britain is generaUy found 

 on hiUs and heathy downs, especiaUy in 

 the north, and where the soil is chalky. 

 The berries are much used to flavour 

 hoUands or geneva, a spirit distilled from 

 corn. 



JuNiPERUs Communis 

 (Common Juniper) 



3. Taxus (Yew). — Barren flowers 

 in oval catkins, which are scaly 

 below ; stamens numerous ; fertile 

 flowers solitary, scaly below ; frtiit, 

 a naked seed, surrounded at the 

 base by the enlarged pulpy scales. 

 (Name, the Latin name of the tree.) 



T. haccata (Common Yew). — The 

 only British yew, is an evergreen 

 tree, remarkable for its longevity. 

 The foliage is poisonous, but the red 

 pulp of the berries is said to be in- 

 nocuous, being often eaten by chil- 

 dren without ill effect. The hard 

 stone, however, should not be swal- 

 lowed. The variety called Irish 

 Yew has erect, mstead of spreaduig 

 branches. 



Taxus Baccata 

 (Common Yew) 



