De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 211
female trees, the flowers of which are fertilized by insects (largely bees).
The fruits, ripe in late spring as the leaves reach full size, are thin capsulelike
bodies, many of which are produced in long tassel-like clusters; the capsules
split open soon after maturity, liberating the minute seeds. The seeds
FIG. 84.-Myrica californica.
are provided with long, exceedingly fine, silky hairs, which permit the wind to
carry them for very long distances.
With some exceptions, they are moisture-loving trees and shrubs, which accounts
for their prevalence along streams and bottoms. A remarkable charac-