INFLORESCENCE AND FLOWERS—FRUIT AND SEED 127 
ovoid, smooth, olive-brown nut, with the broad end 
inserted into the cupule, and the narrower, somewhat 
tapering end projecting free. 
It will be interesting, in the light of the foregoing 
remarks, to examine one of the stronger lateral buds 
of the oak towards the end of April, before it unfolds. 
A transverse section of such a bud shows the following 
structures :—In the centre is the axis of the young shoot, 
represented by the small central dot in the diagram (fig. 
82,8). Surrounding this are about eight to ten green 
leaves in section, and folded on their midribs in such a 
way that the two halves of the upper surface are face to 
face and somewhat crumpled ; some of these are turned 
so that their edges are directed one way, others with 
them directed the other. 
Each of these leaves has a pair of small stipules, 
also cut across, and rather difficult to identify (fig. 32, 
12-20). Some of the foliage leaves bear female inflo- 
rescences in their axils, as indicated by the sign ¢ in 
the figure. Following on these stipulate leaves are a 
number of pairs of larger stipules, devoid of foliage 
leaves and constituting the bud-scales (fig. 32, 1-11). 
Some of these bear male inflorescences ( ¢ ) between them 
—1.e. in the position corresponding to the axil of the leaf. 
It will be understood that in this diagram the parts 
are all represented on a ground-plan, but that as the 
bud opens the inner leaves and stipules are on higher 
levels than the outer scales. In fact, proceeding in the 
order of the numerals, we pass in an ascending spiral 
