376 VARIOUS PLANT GROUPS 



The family consists of ivoody plants without oil reservoirs 

 or resinous excretions; but ivith simple, stipulate leaves; and 

 monoecious inflorescences, the staminate mostly amentaceous, 

 the pistillate more or less enclosed in a cupule, which hears dis- 

 tinct, scaly, or spiny bracts; and the pistils of three or more 

 carpels with axile placentce. 



124. The beech order (Fagales) comprises only the birch 

 and the l^ecch families. These agree in having moncecious 

 inflorescences with the statninate flowers mostly in aments, 

 and the pistillate in spikes or heads; the flowers hypogynous or 

 epigynous; the perianth leaves and stamens distinct and alternate; 

 and the ovary with axile placentae, and more or less completely 

 divided into two or more cavities, all but one of which becomes 

 obliterated in the fruit. 



See pages 414, 415 for the formula of Fagales. 



125. The walnut family (Juglandaceae). Examples: wal- 

 nut (Fig. 27, page 39), butternut (Fig. 28, page 40), pecan 

 (Fig. 29, page 40), hickory (Fig. 30, page 41), and black 

 walnut (Fig. 246, page 260). 



Formulas of Juglans, Carya, and Juglandacese are given on 

 pages 414, 415. 



In general appearance the inflorescences of the walnut 

 family resemble those of the beech and the birch families, 

 but there is a curious adherence between the bracts, bractlets, 

 and perianth leaves, unlike anything we have seen. Those 

 which belong to each flower are all more or less united to 

 form what at first sight might be mistaken for perianth 

 alone. 



The fruit is mostly a drupaceous nut recalling the almond, 

 but with the tough fleshj^ part dehiscing into four valves and 

 differing also in having the epigynous torus as a component 

 part. 



The walnut family may be distinguished as consisting of 

 ti^ees ivith scented, pinnately compound, exstipulate leaves; and 

 monoecious inflorescences, the staminate amentaceous, the pis- 

 tillate in heads; each pistil of two carpels; and the fruit a de- 

 hiscent drupe with a nut-like stone. 



126. The walnut order (Juglandales), contains only the 



