THE DICOTYLEDONS 
501 
androgynous aments from scaly buds formed in the summer in 
the axils of the leaves of the year, remaining covered during the 
winter and opening in March or April before or with the unfold- 
ing of the leaves of the year. 
Staminate flowers in elongated 
catkins, each consisting of two to eight 
stamens inserted on the torus-like base 
of the oval or oval-lanceolate bracts of 
the catkin, usually subtended by two 
or four or rarely by numerous bracte- 
oles; filaments short or elongated, 
filiform, free or connate at the base 
into a short stipe; anthers ovoid, erect, 
two-celled, extrorse, showing longitu- 
dinal dehiscence.  Pistillate flowers in 
ovoid or  ovoid-globular catkins. 
Gynoecium of two united carpels on 
a bract. Ovary sessile, unicellular, 
subtended by two lateral bracteoles 
which persist under the fruit, or by 
eight linear-subulate bracteoles, accres- 
cent, and forming a laciniate involucre 
inclosing the fruit; styles short and 
dividing into two elongated style arms 
which bear stigmatic surfaces on their 
inner face; ovule orthotropous, solitary, 
with a basilar placenta and superior 
micropyle. Fruit an akene or cerifer- 
ous nut. Pericarp covered with glan- 
dular emergences which secrete wax or 
fleshy emergences, smooth and lustrous 
or smooth, glandular. Seed erect, ex- 
albuminous, covered with a thin testa. 
Embryo straight, cotyledons thick, 
plano-convex; radicle short, superior. 
Fic. 373.—F lowers and fruit 
of willow (Salix viminalis). <A, 
twig with staminate catkins. 
B, staminate flower with sub- 
tending bract, enlarged. C, 
pistillate catkin. D, E. pistil- 
late flowers, enlarged. F, fruit, 
natural size. G, the same en- 
larged. H, seed _ enlarged. 
(From Strasburger, Macmillan Co.) 
There are two distinct genera of this family, e.g., Myrica and 
Comptonia. 
