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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Pinaceae Spreng. ex Rudolphi

PINACEAE

Resinous trees or, less commonly, shrubs, usually evergreen, usually monoecious, with long and short growth shoots or long shoots only. Winter buds scaly, often resinous; scales at base persistent. Lvs alternate to spirally arranged, often fascicled, needle-like to linear, sometimes reduced to scale lvs on long shoots. Fls forming cones with spirally arranged scales. ♂ strobili (cones) with numerous scales and stamens (microsporophylls); stamens each with 2 pollen sacs (anthers) on the lower surface of each scale; pollen mostly with bladders. ♀ strobili (cones): bract scales each bearing a flat ovuliferous scale (megasporophyll) on its upper surface and united to its base. Ovules 2, anatropous, situated on the upper (inner) side of the ovuliferous scale. Fr. a semi to strongly woody cone, closed until maturity; bract scales free or united to and enclosed by or exserted from ovuliferous scales, sometimes 0 in ripe cone. Seed usually winged; cotyledons 3-18, often green.

Key

1
Short shoots present, with lvs (needles) in fascicles of > 1
2
Short shoots 0, with lvs (needles) solitary
4
2
Lvs of long shoots small and scale-like, those of short shoots in fascicles of 2, 3 or 5, very rarely 1, 4 or 6-8, with basal sheaths persistent or deciduous
PINUS
Lvs of normal appearance on long shoots, those of short shoots in fascicles of 10-50 on short spurs, without basal sheaths
3
3
Plants deciduous; ♀ cones with bract scales large and exserted at anthesis, ripening in first season; mature cones persistent and intact after dehiscence, 1-4-(6) × 1-3 cm before dehiscence
LARIX
Plants evergreen; ♀ cones with bract scales very small and included at anthesis; ripening in second season; mature cones disintegrating at maturity, 5-12 × 4- c. 8 cm
CEDRUSζ
4
Lvs not on a peg-like projection, leaving a smooth circular scar when pulled off or shed; cones disintegrating when mature, erect
ABIES
Lvs on a peg-like projection of the shoot, or on a slightly raised pad, leaving the shoot rough or irregular, or with elliptic scars when pulled off or shed; cones falling whole, ± pendent
5
5
Buds rounded, obtuse or subacute; lvs on a peg-like projection of the shoot, leaving a roughened shoot when shed; bract scales not exserted
PICEA
Buds narrow, very acute; lvs on a slightly raised pad of the shoot, leaving a rather smooth shoot with elliptic scars when shed; bract scales prominently exserted
PSEUDOTSUGA

c. 10 genera, 250 spp., N. Hemisphere, temperate and sometimes subtropical regions.

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