ON A NEW CHARACTER IN THÉ FRUIT OF QUERCUS. 137 
base of the ovary by the remains of the placentas, and their former 
semianatropal evolution may easily be recognized. This inferior posi- 
n confirms M. Schacht’s accurate observation that the ovules of Q. 
Robur spring from the base of the ovary-cells and ascend, whilst most 
authors. describe them as pendulous, or as changing their position 
during growth.* ^ It is a general rule, and I have verified it in 
many Orders, for example, in Myrsinacee and Hippocastanee, that the 
ovules once formed do not detach themselves when they become abor- 
tive) They are always to be found, if looked for, in their original place 
of growth, so that it is frequently a convenient practice to determine 
the original position of the ovules by the ripe fruit. Every species of 
Quercus which matures its fruit within the year, probably has its atro- 
phied ovules below the seed, or at least below its medium line. This 
been ascertained in many American species, as well as in those of 
the Old World ; but those species which ripen their fruit the second 
year, differ in having their atrophied oviiles sometimes at the base, 
sometimes at the summit of the ovary. Every Quercus not included in 
the section Lepidobalanus, as well as the genera Lithocarpus, Castanop- 
sis, and Castanea, bear their abortive ovules at the apex of the seed. - 
Thus, in the subgenus Lepidobalanus, Q. Cerris, with fruit matur- 
ing the second year, and deciduous leaves, has ovules inferior, like 
Q. Robur P Q. Pseudo-suber, occidentalis, coccifera, Vallonea, ete., of our 
continent, and the American Q. crassifolia, splendens, ete., with fruit 
quite as biennial and evergreen leaves, have ovules like Q. rubra and 
Cerris. But a long series of American Oaks with biennial fruit and 
leaves either evergreen or not, such as Q. falcata, rubra, Xalapensis, 
acutifolia, and others, have their atrophied ovules above the seed. This 
will ‘astonish American botanists much, but the fact is, in their most 
common species, the abortive ovules are sometimes at the base, some- 
times at the summit of the seed. In Q. macrocarpa, Prinos, stellata, 
alba, and virens, for instance, the ovules are inferior, as in our Q. Robur ; 
but in Q. ilicifolia, falcata, rubra, palustris, coccinea, Phellos, imbrica- 
ria, and nigra, they are superior in relation to the seed. 
As might be expected, and as I have ascertained, in some species 
the position of the atrophied ovules in the ripe fruit depends upon their 
* i Lu i i interioris appensa ;" Nees, 
gall Eiter (Gen. 904) serez One MP reda mor pendala;” M. Gay 
(Bull. Soe, Bot., 1857, p. 506), not having verified their position, is silent. 
