CONIFERM. 
summit, becoming thickened to a corresponding extent by the activity of a cambium- 
ring, and thus becomes a slender cone attaining a height of loo, 200, or even 
more feet\ and a diameter at the base of 2 or 3 or as much as 20 feet. On this 
highly-developed primary axis the lateral axes of the first order are produced; 
often periodically in rosettes at the apex (pseudo-whorls) or distributed irregularly 
and branching again in the same manner. Each primary axis usually grows more 
vigorously than its secondary axes ; and hence the collective form of the system of 
branching, as long as the primary axis continues to grow vigorously, is that of a 
panicle of conical or pyramidal form. While in Cycadeae the branching is almost 
entirely suppressed, the peculiar form and beauty of Conifers depends chiefly on the 
branching, the more so as the leaves are almost always small and inconspicuous, 
serving only, as far as the outward appearance of the plant is concerned, as a cloth- 
ing to the system of branching. The branching is always axillary ; but Conifers 
differ from Angiosperms in not producing buds in nearly all the leaf-axils ; in 
Araucaria and some species of Taxus ^ Abies, and other genera, it is chiefly or 
exclusively the youngest leaf-axils of a year's growth which produce branches, and 
these grow vigorously. In Juniperus communis, indeed, buds occur in most of the 
leaf-axils, but only a few develope. In Pinus sylvestris and its allies shoots are formed 
only in the axils of the cataphyllary leaves which are borne exclusively by the 
primary stem and the permanent woody branches, remaining however very short, 
and producing two, three, or more acicular foliage-leaves, from the axils of which no 
lateral shoots are produced. In Larix, Cedrus, and Salisburia, buds are formed in 
the axils of a considerable number — but not nearly all — of the foliage-leaves, a few 
growing rapidly, and serving for the development of the branch-system, while others 
remain very short, and form annually a new rosette of leaves without lateral buds. In 
Thuja and Cupressus also, which are distinguished by their copious branching, the 
number of small leaves is still very much larger than that of the axillary shoots. 
Many Conifers exhibit a very regular arrangement of those branches of different 
orders which arrive at their full development, the symmetry of the whole tree being 
at the same time increased by their difference in size. The branches of the first 
order on the upright primary stem are frequently formed in a pseudo-whorl of several 
members at the conclusion of each period of vegetation, the same process being 
frequently repeated on the branches themselves {e.g. Pi?ius sylvestris., Araucaria 
brasiliensis, and especially Fhyllocladus trichomanoides, and many others) ; more 
commonly a tendency to bilateral ramification appears on the horizontal branches 
of the first order (as in Abies pectinata); and not unfrequently besides these strong 
branches from which the framework of the tree is constructed, smaller ones are 
also formed between them {e.g. in Abies excelsa). In many cases the arrangement 
and growth of the branches are more irregular; the greatest deviation from this 
type being shown in the Cupressineae, especially Cupressus, Thuja, and Libocedrus, 
in which the tendency to bilateral ramification '^ is seen even on the primary stem, 
which is more perfectly developed on the lateral shoots. Branch-systems of three or 
' [The trunk oi Sequoia {Wellingtonia) gigantea of California attains the height of 400 feet.] 
^ In many species also of Abies and Pifius there is an evident tendency to bilateral development 
in the horizontal lateral shoots, the spirally arranged leaves inclining over to the right and left, and 
thus forming two c->mb-like rows. 
