124 



THE OAK 



the male flower. In the first place, the ovary is inferior, 

 being sunk in and fused into a six-partite perigone, the 

 teeth of which project some distance up and surround a 

 trifid stigma (figs. 33 and 34, c). One of the lobes of the 

 perigone will be found opposite to the bract ; the three 



FIG. 32. A. Flowering twig and inflorescences, male ( <?) 

 and female ( ? ), semi-diagrammatic. B. Diagram of plan 

 of a similar but lateral twig. F. Leaf from axil of which 

 the twig arises : x, parent stem ; a and , bracts. The 

 numbers 1-11 denote pairs of stipules acting as bud- 

 scales, some with male inflorescences ( $ ) springing trom 

 between them ; the continued numbers 12-21 also denote 

 pairs of stipules, but these have their accompanying 

 leaves, with or without female inflorescences ( $ ) in the 

 axils. (Eichler.) 



lobes of the stigma are superposed on three alternate 

 (outer) lobes of the perigone. 



There is yet a further covering to the female flower. 

 The somewhat irregular margins of a minute cup-like 

 investment are to be seen arising from beneath and 

 around the perigone : this is the scaly cupula, the future 



