CHAP. j:i.] CUPULIFERiE. 199 



each flower is furnished with six styles, having 

 as many cells with two ovules in each, though 



Fig. 89.— Fruit of the Swebt Chestnut. 



generally all the cells unite into one, and most 

 of the ovules wither before the fruit ripens. 

 There are three female flowers in each involucre, 

 which lie nestling together like birds in a 

 nest. AVhen ripe the involucre or husk opens 

 naturally into four valves (as shown va. Jig. 89), 

 and drops the one or two Chestnuts which it 

 contains. Each nut, when ripe, is enveloped in 

 a brittle shinino^ skin formed of the metamor- 

 phosed calyx, and consists of only one cell, in 

 which are one, two, or at most three kernels, 

 which are the seeds. 



