PHAXEROGAMIA 



559 



Family 2. Cupuliferae. Inflorescences in the leaf axils, as a 

 rule of shoots of the current year. Flowers with perianth. Ovary 

 trilocular, with three stigmas ; two, pendulous, anatropous ovules in 

 each loculus. One or more female flowers are enclosed in a CUPULE 

 formed of coherent bracteoles, which only reaches full development 



Kic. .")i;i>. - i 'i'i>in .< tetulus. 1, Branch with male catkins projecting from the buds of the preced- 

 ing year and female catkins on the growth of the current year. 2, Female catkin in fruit. 

 3, Male flower, it, Stamen. 5, Bract with two female flowers. G, Female flower. 7, Fruit. 

 (7, ,.', 7, 3 nat. size ; .!-(! enlarged.) 



around the fruit. Another interpretation of the cupule is that it 

 corresponds to an outgrowth of the axis bearing numerous reduced 

 leaves (Fig. 569). 



MORE IMPORTANT SPECIES. Fayus sylvatiea, the Beech (Fig. 571), is one of our 

 most important deciduous trees. The leaf is entire, elliptical, shortly stalked, 

 and, especially when young, covered with fine hairs. Leaves two -ranked. 

 Inflorescences on shoots of the current season. Male inflorescences lateral, capitate 

 and pendulous ; flower with an oblique, bell-shaped perianth and usually 8-12 



