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336 Structural and Physiological Botariy. | 
the ovules. The two cotyledons are unlike in form, are connate with 
one another at their apex, and remain, on germination, enclosed in the 
albuminous seed. The pith of some species, as the East Indian Cycas_ 
circtnalis, and the South African Lucephalartos lanuginosus, afford a 
kind of sago. [Principal genera: Cycas, Stangeria, Dioon, Encephalartos, 
Zana. | . 
Order 2. CONIFER. Trees or shrubs, with stems growing at their 
apex for not unfrequently several centuries, and attaining a height of 
200 or 300 feet or more. Either all the leaves have the form of foliage- 
leaves, as in Funiperus and Thuja, or foliage-leaves alternate with 
membranous scales which serve to protect the buds, as in the Abietinez. 
The leaves are small, usually acerose (Fig. 454), and endure for several 
years, and the plants are therefore evergreen. The flowers are always 
incomplete (without perianth), and either moncecious, as in Adzes, or 
dicecious, as in the yew and juniper. The male flowers, which are 
often incorrectly called’ catkins, bear leaf-like or scale-like bracts on 
the lower end of a common axis, and at the upper end a number of 
stamens. The female flowers are of various forms, and are either solitary 
or united into peculiar cone-like inflorescences, In the Cupressinee 
(Figs. 455, 456) the stamens are broad, and bear two or three pollen- 
Fic. 455.—Ripe coneof Fic. 456. —Berry-like Fic. 457.—Male flower of the 
Cupressus (natural fruit of the juniper yew; I. before, II. after the 
size). (natural size). Bee of the pollen (magni- 
ed). 
sacs on a shield-like mid-rib. The ovules are erect and orthotropous, 
and stand in the axils of the bracts or carpellary scales. In some genera, 
as Thujaand Cupressus, the fruit is a cone ; in others, as Funiperus, it is 
berry-like, and formed by the coalescence and softening of several female 
flowers. ‘The embryo has two or three cotyledons, which remain in 
the ground on germination. The fruit of the juniper, Suszperus coni- 
munis, is officinal, and is applied to many purposes-; as also are the © 
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