CONIFEEJJ. 771 



known. Three species only are indigenous to Britain, but a large 

 number of exotic ones are generally planted, and some to such an ex- 

 tent as now to cover large tracts of country. The very peculiar struc- 

 ture of the flowers and seeds of this and the adjoining small tropical 

 family of Cycadece, has induced many botanists to consider them as a 

 separate class, distinct both from Dicotyledons and 'Monocotyledons. 



Male catkins cylindrical, with 2 anther-cells to each scale. Fruit 



a dry cone, with 2 winged seeds under each scale . . . . 1. Pine. 



Male catkins small, with 4 anther-cells to each scale. Fruit 



small and succulent, containing 2 or 3 hard seeds .... 2. Junipee. 



Male catkins small, with 3 to 8 anther-cells to each of the upper 

 scales. Fruit a single seed, half immersed in a succulent 

 cup 3. Yew. 



The most commonly planted Conifers, not belonging to the above 

 genera, are species of Cypress, resembling Junipers in foliage and male 

 flowers, but the fruit is larger and woody, with numerous small seeds ; 

 or of Tkuia, very near Cypress, but with flattened branches, and very 

 small, ovate, dry cones with few seeds ; or of Taxodium, with deciduous 

 leaves, and a small cone near that of Cypress; besides the Sequoias of 

 California, Cryptomeria from Japan, and several others of recent in- 

 troduction likely to become common in our plantations. 



I. PINE. PINUS. 



Trees, with linear or subulate leaves. Male catkins closely imbricated, 

 with 2 adnate anther-cells on the inside of each scale (at least apparently 

 so, for in fact the scale is the connectivum of the anther, and the 

 whole catkin thus consists of nothing but closely imbricated anthers). 

 Female catkins short, consisting of closely imbricated scales, with 2 

 ovules on the inside of each ; the for a men, or open pore at the top of 

 the ovule, turned downwards. Fruit a cone, consisting of more or less 

 hardened, imbricated scales, each one covering 2 winged seeds. 



A large genus, constituting the great mass of the Conifers of the 

 northern hemisphere, scarcely penetrating into the tropics, and un- 

 known in the southern hemisphere. 



1. Scotch Pine. Pinus sylvestris, Linn. (Fig. 928.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2460. Common Pine, Norway or Higa Tine or Fir, 

 Scotch Fir.) 



A tree of considerable size ; the main trunk simple or forked, with 

 a reddish bark, and a rather dense head, but less so than in many 

 other species. Leaves stiffly subulate, evergreen, seldom above 2 

 inches long, in pairs, surrounded by short, scarious scales. Cones 



