OAK 



259 



may be seven, and less striate. These, and other varietal 

 forms, e.g. Q. pubescens, with more pubescent leaves, 

 peduncles, and cups, all pass one into the other. 



The morphology of the $ flower (Fig. 90) may be best 

 understood by comparison with that of the Beech (Fig. 87), 

 and Chestnut (Fig. 84). Each cupule in Quercus invests an- 

 inflorescence composed of one flower only corresponding 

 to the central one of the three found in Castanea, and to 



Fig. 90. Analysis of floral parts of Oak. A, inflorescence of Quercus 

 Robur, cf male and ? female. B, plan of a lateral bud bearing leaves 

 and flowers of Q. palustris ; (7, floral diagram of male flower; D, a female 

 flower of same ; E and F, longitudinal section of female flower of Q. Robur, 

 and G, its floral diagram. In all figures, b bract, a and /3 bracteoles, 

 and the numbers in B are placed in the position of the leaf belonging to 

 each pair of stipules, p. 256 (Ei). 



the one which is missing in Fagus. This flower,' invested 

 by its cupule, is subtended by a bract (Fig. 90, B and Eb), 

 and consists of a tricarpellary inferior ovary, with two 

 ovules in each loculus, only one of which usually becomes 

 a seed. Remains of other cells and ovules can often be 

 found at the base on dissecting the 1 -seeded and 1 -celled 

 acorn.] 



172 



