The times., 1899-07-10
CURIOUS SEEDS.
Pine Tree That Is an Enigma to
pOtanists
(FrOm the London Daily Mail.)


There is a botanical enigma in Kew
Gardens. This is curious specimen of
the pine tree. II is handsome to look at
and sturdy in its growth. But the extraor-
dinary thing about this pine is that nobody
has been able to explain precisely how
it begins its life. Several authorities on
trees and plants have examined it. They
admit that the tree present problem un-
like anything ever before encountered in
botany. This tree, which is known as
Pinus muricata, and of which there are
several examples at Kew, produces at reg
ular intervals the usual cones containing
the seeds. But. strange to say, these cones
appear to be protected in the strongest
possible manner, so as TO prevent the seeds
from being released. The cones are hard
and tightly closed, and have strong over
tapping scales.
But more extraordinary than this is the
fact that the tree after producing these
almost invulnerable cones keeps them
hanging unopened year after year upon its
thickening branches. Unless for some ex-
traordinary accident, the seeds would thus
remain attached to their parent tree for
ever. Many of the cones on these trees
at Kew Gardens have been there for years,
as is shown by the size of the branches
and the formation of the bark.
1t is only recently that the attention of
| botanists has been called to this singular
! fact Most plants we know do all they
! can to launch their progeny in the world
as quickly as possible, and to spread them
widely apart. This is done by all the
other plants We know by means of many
cunning contrivance, with the down or
wings or burrs to catch to an animal S
| coat, or juicy pulp to tempt the birds to
carry them away.
| 1t is a universal rule throughout the
vegetable kingdom-to which there is
! known but this one extraordinary excep-
| tion-that every plant in order to repro
! duce Its species is provided with inter
! esting and ingenious means for effectually
| scattering its seeds. Why then, is the
mysterious pine tree at Kew Gardens the
| only exception to this rule? That is the
| question which botansts are asking each
| other.
Nobody has yet been able to offer q
satisfactory explanation. In the examina.
! tons that have been made of this strange
pine it has been found that the seed yes
I sells which the tree so powerfully retains
! are so well protected that a strong. sharI
| knife, with the assistance of heavy ham,
mer. is requisite to sectionize the cone
| No ordinary conditions OF temperature viii
make one of these cones open.
| The only explanation of this mystery
! which has been offered with any grounds
| of plausibility is q remarkable one. One
well-known botanist, after puzzling fol
several months about this tree, says that
the species is perpetuated by fire. He as
serts that nothing but an intense forest
fire, which will sweep grove of these
trees out of existence, will compel them tC
release their seeds. Under the influence
of intense heat it has been found that the
! cones crack open and the seeds fail ou
unscathed.
In any event, the seeds are known to re-
tain their vitality for years. After hang
ing for many seasons upon the tree il ha:
been found that the seeds when released
| by means Of a hammer and chisel viii
grow if planted in the ground.
If you knock off one of these cones from
its parent tree (which can only be don,
with strong blow the cone will remain
upon the ground throughout all the season
without showing the faintest inclination Il
open and release the seeds. Such cont
buried in the ground will retain the seed
in a firm grasp.
These facts tend to support the fire the
ory as the only possible explanation OF thi
botanical mystery. Still, many botanist
are not satisfied with the explanation. No
where else in the vegetable kingdom i
there plant or tree requiring forest fir
and the destruction of the parent to re
produce its species.
This mysterious pine tree inhabits Up
per California. but will only grow near tn
seacoast. 1t does not attain very larg
size and its growth is slow. The theor
that the seeds were carried to new place
and released from their cones by the Sc
has been abandoned, since 1t was show
,, that the cones can never reach the sea un
der ordinary circumstances. and that
long immersion in water does not Undue
them to open.