FAGACEAE 79 



Allied to B. alnoides. 



Central China. This tree is common at low elevations within its 

 range. 



FAGACEAE 



Leaves alternate, with stipules. Flowers monoecious, rarely dioecious. 

 Stamens 2-4 or indefinite. Ovary inferior, 2-6 celled; ovules solitary or 

 in pairs. Fruit a nut, more or less inclosed in bract-like scales, usually 

 to form a spiny, scaly or woody cup or involucre. Nut generally 1 seeded 

 by abortion of some of the ovules. 



The family has 6 genera and about 600 species widely distributed. 

 Nothofagus is confined to the S. Hemisphere. All the genera are repre- 

 sented by important timber trees. 



KEY TO THE CHINESE GENERA 



A. Staminate flowers capitate; the pistillate in 2-4 flowered clusters; 

 nuts triangular Fagus. 



B. Staminate flowers in slender aments; nuts more or less rounded. 



I. The pistillate flowers in 2-5 flowered clusters, below the 

 staminate in a bisexual ament. 



a. Fruits inclosed in a prickly bur. 



1. Fruit maturing in 1 season; leaves deciduous; ovary 

 6 celled; branchlets lengthening by means of an 

 axillary bud ; bud scales 4 Castanea. 



2. Fruit maturing in 2 seasons; leaves persistent; ovary 

 3 celled; branchlets lengthening by means of a 

 terminal bud; bud scales numerous. .. .Castanopsis. 



b. Fruit inclosed partly in a more or less scaly cup, usually 

 spicate Lithocarpvs. 



II. Pistillate flowers solitary in a few-flowered unisexual spike; 

 fruit more or less inclosed in a scaly cup Quercus. 



FAGUS 



Trees or shrub3. Buds scaly, elongated and pointed. Leaves deciduous, 

 alternate, pinnately veined, serrate. Stipules linear, lanceolate, early 



