482 
XCVII. COMFEK.E 
XCVII. CONIFERS 
Teees or shrubs ; the bark, wood and leaves more or less charged 
with turpentine. Leaves usually lasting for several years, alternate 
or whorled or clustered or spirally scattered, needle-shaped or scale- 
like, spreading or closely imbricate. Flowers minute, in 1-sexual 
cones, the male and female usually on the same plant. Perianth 
none. Male cones falling off after flowering : bracts often coloured 
red when young, usually all basal, the floral axis being prolonged 
above them and bearing numerous stamens of peculiar form, each 
consisting of a stalk with a small, flat limb usually bent upwards 
and imbricating with the others ; anther single, 2-6-celled, sessile, 
pollen grains usually buoyant and easily dispersed by currents of 
air. Female cones of structure differing in the several genera: 
in Gupressus a few of the uppermost bracts bear 4-6 seeds on their 
base ; in Juniperus 3-6 of the uppermost bracts each enclose a single 
seed ; in Taxus the two uppermost bracts together enclose a single 
seed ; in Pinus, Gedrus, Picea and Abies the bracts are minute 
and each produces in its axil a seed-bearing scale often coloured 
red when young ; the bracts, except in Abies, disappear or are 
at least completely hidden before the fruit arrives at maturity, 
while the scales become greatly enlarged and woody, ultimately 
forming the chief part of the cone. When the cones are in flower 
the scales separate so as to leave a passage for the pollen to 
reach the two minute, naked ovules borne near the base of each scale. 
After fertilisation the seeds harden and acquire a flat, membranous 
wing, the scales close and the whole cone becomes much larger. In 
the mature cone the hard, brown scales again open and the winged 
seeds drop out or are carried away by the wind. The genera of the 
Coniferse likewise differ widely in the structure of their fruit : in 
Gupressus it is a globose cone composed of woody, peltate scales, 
their margins being opposed, not imbricating; in Juniperus it is 
succulent and berry-like ; in Taxus a red, fleshy cup ; while in Pinus, 
Cedrus, Picea and Abies the fruit is a cone with imbricating scales. 
The seeds in all the genera are hard and usually winged. — Chiefly 
in cold regions ; in India only in the mountains. 
The flowers of Coniferae are dependent on the wind for the transfer of the 
pollen. 
Trees. 
Leaves very short, scale-like, imbricate . . . . .1. Cupressus 
Leaves needle-like, spreading. 
Leaves in clusters. 
Leaves 1-1^ in., many in a cluster 5. Cedrus. 
Leaves more than 5 in., few in a cluster . . . .4. Pinus. 
Leaves single. 
Leaves 4-sided ........ 6. Picea. 
Leaves flattened. 
Leaves stiff ; lower surface white . . . . .7. Abies. 
Leaves flexible ; lower surface green . . . .3. Taxus. 
Shrubs. Leaves linear, spreading, acute 2. Juniperus. 
