DICOTYLEDONS CUPULIFER^E DIAGRAM 16. 199 



but consists in many cases of a seed which seems to be contained 

 in a small cup, or cupula, from which the name of the family is 

 derived. The cupuliferse yield valuable timber and bark for many 

 industrial purposes. The bark of these trees is almost always 

 very bitter. 



The acorn of the Oak is the typical example of a fruit contained 

 in a cup. It is well known in what esteem the wood of the oak is 

 held by builders and joiners, for its durability and beauty. The 

 bark is not less useful. When young oaks are cut down, it is 

 carefully removed, and is used in tanning hides, to convert them 

 into leather. The tan, after being used, is sometimes spread in 

 the streets in front of houses where a person is dangerously ill, to 

 deaden the sound of passing vehicles. 



Cork is the bark of another kind of oak, which grows m the 

 South of Europe and North Africa. When the tree is fully 

 grown, an incision is made at the top and bottom of the trunk, and 

 the bark is removed. It is allowed to dry, and then cut into corks. 



It is on the oak that the Gall nuts are produced in some coun- 

 tries by the attacks of the cynips, which are used in the manufac- 

 ture of ink. (See p. 142.) 



The Hazel) or Nut-tree, has a fruit in a cup like the oak, but this 

 covers it entirely. The branches of the hazel are straight and 

 flexible, and are used for many purposes. 



The edible, or Spanish chestnut, although a native of Asia, is 

 abundant throughout Central and Southern Europe, and in South 

 Europe the fruit forms a most important article of food. It is 

 also not rare in England. Each fruit generally contains two 

 chestnuts. The flowers are inconspicuous, like those of all the 

 family of Cupuiiferse, and are simply composed of small scales. 

 They are remarkable for their very powerful and sickly odour. 

 Chestnut wood is valuable, and it is said that insects will not 

 attack it. The branches are always straight and flexible, and are 

 used, when split, for barrel-hoops. 



The Horse-chestnut does not belong to this family, and is a 

 foreign tree which has been introduced into Europe, like all trees 



