290 



CORYLACEiE. 



[Diclinous Exogens. 



Order XCV. CORYLACE^.— Mastworts. 



Castanese, Adans. fam. 366. (1763).— Cupuliferae, Rich. Anal, du Fr. (1808) ; Blunie Flora Javce, 

 Endlich. lxx.\ix.; Meisner, p. 346.— Corylacese, Mirh. Elem. 906. (1815).— Quercinese, Juss. in Diet. 

 Sc. Nat. vol. 2. Suppl. (1816). 



Diagnosis. — Quernal Exogens, with 2 or more cells in the ovary ^ and pendulous or peltate 



ovules. 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves ^vdth stipules, alternate, simple, often with veins pro- 

 ceeding straight from the midrib to the margin. Flowers (??$(? amenta- 

 ceous, $ aggregate or amentaceous. S Stamens 5 to 20, inserted mto the base of 

 scales or of a membranous valvate calyx, generally distinct. $ Ovary crowned 

 2 2 ^y ^^^ rudiments of an adherent 



calyx, seated within a coriaceous 

 involucre (cupule) of various 

 figm'e, with several cells and seve- 

 ral o\Tiles, the greater part of 

 which are abortive ; ovules twui or 

 sohtary, pendulous or peltate ; stig- 

 mas several, sub-sessile, distinct. 

 Fruit a bony or coriaceous 1- 

 celled nut, more or less mclosed 

 m the involucre. Seeds solitary, 

 1, 2, or 3 ; embryo large, with 

 plano-convex fleshy cotyledons and 

 a minute superior radicle. 



The trees or bushes which consti- 

 tute this Order are among the 

 most important that are laiown in 

 the Flora of Em'ope. They are 

 readily recognised by their amen- 

 taceous flowers and pecuharly 

 veined leaves ; from all other plants 

 they are distinguished by their 

 apetalous superior rudimentary 

 calyx, fimit mclosed in a peculiar 



Fig. cc, 



husk or cup, and nuts containing but 1 cell and 1 or 2 seeds, in consequence of the 

 abortion of the remainder. They are akin to Willo^N'worts and Birchworts, from which 

 the superior calyx and, m the former case, very often the vemmg of their leaves, 

 distinguish them. To Nettleworts they are nearly alHed, but differ in then- many-celled 

 ovary, pendulous ovules, and superior calyx. At first sight, in consequence of then: 

 leaves never being pinnate, their relationship to Juglands escapes notice; but the discovery 

 that some at least have the same kind of ^^Tinkled and 4-lobed cotyledons, as for instance 

 certain Oaks and Synsedi-ys, has called attention to the fact Quercus Skinneri, a kind 

 of Oak from Guatemala, shows this in a striking manner ; and upon considering all their 

 pomts of structm^e, no doubt seems to remain about the Oak and Walnut really belong- 

 ing to the same Natural Alliance. 



Fig. CC— Fagus sylvatica ; 1. ^ catkins; 2. ^ do. ; 3. the latter, with the scales of the 

 involucre stripped off to show the ovaries at the apex ; 4. a ^ flower ; 5. a half-grown O with the 

 involucre, now consisting of consolidated scales, forced back; 6. a ripe involucre opening and e.xposing 

 the nuts ; 7. a transverse section of a ripe nut ; 8. the same of a young ovary (from Nccs) ; 9. a vertical 

 section of the ^ flower of Quercus pedunculata. 



