DIV. II 



ANGIOSPERMAE 



611 



of three, adherent to the bract. Anthers deeply bifid (Fig. 604, 3, 4). Female 



inflorescences solitary, at the apex of small, short shoots of the current year. 



Flowers in dichasia of three in relation to each three-lobed scale ; the latter is 



composed of the bract and the two adherent bracteoles. Fruits borne on 



pendulous catkins ; winged. After the fruits are shed the scales of the catkin 



separate. Carpinus Hetulus, the Hornbeam (Fig. 605), is an important forest-tree. 



The inflorescences appear in spring, the male, from axillary buds of the previous 



year, either want leaves or are accompanied by one or two, the female are usually 



terminal. The bract of the 



male catkin bears 4-10 



stamens, bifid to the base, 



but without bracteoles or 



perigone. Two female 



flowers in relation to each 



bract ; each flower with its 



special bract and pair of 



bracteoles. The three latter 



unite to form a three-lobed 



involucre which serves as 



an aid to distribution of the 



fruit by the wind. Corylus 



FiG.6Q3.Alnusglutinoso.. Dia- 

 grams of the male and female 

 flowers. Bract b; bracteoles 

 a |3, a' /3', a, /3,. (After 

 ElCHLER.) 



FIG. 604. Betula verrucosa. 1, Branch with terminal male catkins 

 and female catkins on small lateral branches. 2, Female 

 flower. 5, Male flower. , Stamen. 5, A catkin in fruit. 

 6, Fruit. (1 and 5, 5} nat. size ; %-U and 6, enlarged.) 



avellana, the Hazel, develops its inflorescences in the preceding year. The male 

 catkins are freely exposed during the winter, while the female remain enclosed 

 by the bud-scales, and only protrude their long red stigmas between the scales 

 at the actual time of flowering. The male flower has no perianth but has a 

 pair of bracteoles which are adherent to the bract, as are the four deeply bifid 

 stamens. In the short female catkins a two-flowered dichasium is present in the 

 axil of each bract as in Carpinus ; the fringed involucre also is derived from 

 the coherent bracteoles and special bract of each flower. Corylus tubulosa from 

 southern Europe. 



Family 2. Cupuliferae. Inflorescences in the leaf axils, bearing 

 male flowers provided with a perianth, and female flowers one or 



