97 



well made out. Judging from the genera Stilago and Antidesma, it is very 

 near Cupuliferce, from which it differs chiefly in its superior ovarium and 

 copious fleshy albumen. 



Geography. Natives of the East Indies. 



Properties. 



Examples. Stilago, Antidesma. 



LXXXII. CQPULIFER^. The Oak Tribe. 



CuPULiFEHiE, Rich. Anal, du Fr. (1808) ; Lindl. Synops. 239.(1829); Bhime Flora 



Java, (1829) Corylace^e, Mirb. Elim. 906. (1815) — Quercine^, Juss. 



in Diet. Sc. Nat. vol. 2. Suppl. 12. (1816.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalons dicotyledons, with definite pendulous ovules, 

 2 or more in each cell, amentaceous flowers, single inferior ovaria enclosed 

 in a cupule, and alternate stipulate leaves with veins proceeding straight 

 from the midrib to the margin. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Floivers unisexual; males amentaceous, females aggre- 

 gate or amentaceous. Males : Stamens 5 to 20, inserted into the base of the scales or of a 

 membranous calyx, generally distinct. Females : Ovaries crowned by the rudiments of a 

 superior calyx, seated within a coriaceous involucrum (cupule) of various figure, and with 

 several cells and several ovules, the greater part of which are abortive ; ovules twin or 

 solitary, pendulous ; stigmata several, sub-sessile, distinct. Fruit a bony or coriaceous 

 1-celled nut, more or less enclosed in the involucrum. Seeds solitary, 2 or 3, pendulous ; 



embryo large, with plano-convex fleshy cotyledons, and a minute superior radicle Trees 



or shrubs. Leaves with stipulae, alternate, simple, with veins proceeding straight from the 

 midrib to the margin. 



Affinities. These are known among European trees by their amenta- 

 ceous flowers and peculiarly veined leaves ; from all other plants they are dis- 

 tinguished by their apetalous superior rudimentary calyx, fruit enclosed in a 

 peculiar husk or cup, and nuts containing but 1 cell and 1 or 2 seeds, in conse- 

 quence of the abortion of the remainder. They are nearly akin to Salicinese 

 and Betulineae, from which the presence of a calyx, and, in the former case, 

 the veining of their leaves, distinguish them. To Urticeae they are nearly 

 allied, but differ in their many-celled ovarium, pendulous ovula, and superior 

 calyx. 



Geography. Inhabitants of the forests of all the temperate parts of 

 the continent both of the Old and New World; extremely common in 

 Europe, Asia, and North America ; more rare in Barbary and Chile, and the 

 southern parts of South America; and unknown at the Cape. The species 

 which are found within the tropics of either hemisphere are chiefly Oaks, 

 which abound in the high lands, but are unknown in the valleys of equatorial 

 regions. 



Properties. An order which comprehends the Oak, the Hazel Nut, 

 the Beech, and the Spanish Chestnut, can scarcely require much to be said 

 to a European reader of its properties, which are of too common a use to 

 be unknown even to the most ignorant. Gallic acid exists abundantly in 

 the Oak. The leaves of Qiiercus falcata are employed, on account of their 

 astringency, externally in cases of gangrene ; and the same astringent prin- 

 ciple, which pervades all the order, has caused them to be employed even as 

 febrifuges, tonics, and stomachics. Cork is the bark of Quercus suber; it 

 contains a peculiar principle called ^nhenn{Tiirne7-,700),and an acid called 



H 



