668 



BOTANY 



PART II 



triangular leaves. "When young, all the parts are covered with numerous glandular 

 hairs which give the plant an aromatic, resinous odour. The male inflorescences are 

 formed in the autumn of the previous year, singly or a few together, at the tip of 

 shoots of unlimited growth. Flowers P2, A 2 ; in dichasiaof three, adherent to the 

 bract. Anthers deeply bifid (Fig. 564, 3, 4 ; Fig. 565). Female inflorescences solitary, 

 at the apex of small, short shoots of the current year. Flowers in diehasia of three in 

 relation to each three-lobed scale ; the latter is composed of the bract and the two 

 adherent bracteoles. Fruits borne on pendulous catkins ; winged. After the 



fruits are shed the scales 

 of the catkin separate. 

 Carpinus Betulus, the 

 Hornbeam (Fig. 566), is 

 an important forest-tree. 

 The inflorescences appeal- 

 in spring, the male, from 

 axillary buds of the pre- 

 vious year, either want 

 leaves or are accompanied 

 by one or two, the female 

 are usually terminal. The 

 bract of the male catkin 

 bears 4-10 stamens, bifid 



Km. oi>4. lielnla vernicosa. 1, Branch with terminal male catkins 

 :uul female catkins on small lateral branches. /. Fi-male flower. 

 3, Male flower, k, Stamen, 5, A catkin in fruit. 6, Fruit. 

 (1 and 5, g nat. size ; 2-1, and 6, enlarged.) 



l-'n.. .v..i. /;< 



Diagrams t'rnin Fig. 564 3 

 and !. b, bract ; a/3, bract- 



fiiles. (After ElCHLER.) 



to the base, but without bracteoles or perigoue. Two female flowers in relation 

 to each bract ; each flower with its special bract and pair of bracteoles. The 

 three latter unite to form a three-lobed involucre which serves as an aid to 

 distribution by the wind. Corylus avellana, the Hazel (Fig. 567), develops its 

 inflorescences in the preceding year. The male catkins are freely exposed during 

 the winter, while the female remain enclosed by the bud-scales, and only protrude 

 their long red stigmas between the scales at the actual time of flowering. The 

 male flower has no perianth but has a pair of bracteoles which are adherent 

 to the bract, as are the four, deeply bifid stamens (Fig. 568). In the short, 

 female catkins a two-flowered dichasium is present in the axil of each bract 

 as in Carpinus ; the fringed involucre also is derived from the coherent brac- 

 teoles and special bract of each flower (Fig. 568). Corylus tubulosa from southern 

 Europe. 



