THE HOBSE CHESTNUT. 



into a circlet, each becoming the midvein of a leaflet. The 

 leaflets are inversely lanceolate, or oblanceolate, and serrate. 

 Such leaf forms are palmately compound and digitate (finger- 

 shaped), with the same venation as the simple leaf of the 

 Maple (note, p. 193). 



The Inflorescence is terminal, centrifugal, in showy, 

 erect, pyramidal panicles, strongly contrasted in colors with 

 the deep green of the foliage. 



The Flowers are irregular, unsym metrical, complete 

 though often infertile. The 5 sepals united at base form a 

 5-lobed calyx. The 5 white petals dashed here and there 

 with yellow and red, are entirely distinct. The 7 stamens 

 with the 1 slender style are twice bent downward, then 

 upward. The ovary is 3-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. 



The Fruit is a 3-valved burr, beset with prickly points 

 without, and occupied within by only one (rarely 2) large 

 mahogany-colored seed. * It thus fails to fulfil the promise 

 of its ovary. Of the 6 ovules, only one grows, to the sup- 

 pression of the others and 2 of their cells. A careful exam- 

 ination will show the strangled rudiments, f The seed, often 

 1' in diameter, includes 2 huge cotyledons inseparably united, 

 without albumen. In germination, their 2 petioles (for the 

 cotyledons are leaves) lengthen, and the plumule (tho pri- 

 mary bud) issues from between them. 



The Name, jffisculus, the title of this genus, was the 

 ancient Latin name of a certain Oak with esculent fruit. 

 JE. liyppocdstanum = horse-chestnut, alludes to its former 

 reputation as a veterinary medicine. 



j&i. glabra, with prickly fruit, and ^23. flava, with smooth 



* One regrets that these beautiful seeds are not esculent like the Chestnut. They 

 are however greedily eaten by deer, and in Switzerland they have proved to be an 

 excellent food for sheep, giving a rich flavor to the meat. 



t Similar suppressions habitually occur in the Oak, Birch, etc. The acorn is 1-seeded 

 from a 3-celled, 6-ovuled ovary (p. 208-9). 



