73. CUPULIFER^E. 153 



73. CUPULIFER^. 



1. FAGUS. Common Beech. 



3P. SYLVATICA, L. A large tree, with a straight smooth trunk, 

 and dense head, ending with beautiful pliant branches. Le. ovate, 

 dentate and ciliate on the margin, when young silky. Barren fl. 

 in a drooping catkin, only seen when looking at the under side of 

 the branch. Fertile peduncles erect. Nuts (commonly called 

 mast), with a prickly involucre. 4 * Scarcely wild in Scotland," 

 H. & A. 



Woods, extensively planted. (E) T. 45. 



2. CASTANEA. Spanish Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut. 



* C. VULGARIS, Lam. A noble tree when old and well grown ; 

 a fine example may be seen in front of Buchanan House on the 

 banks of Loch Lomond. Le. oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, serra- 

 tures large and tipped with a rnucro, smooth on both sides, 5 8 in. 

 long. Barren fl. in a spike. Fertile ones with a prickly involucre. 

 Common. In plantations, Garscube, &c. T. 5 7. 



3. QU&RCUS. Oak. 



Q. ROBUR, L. British Oak. A well-known tree, of very slow 

 growth, with numerous curving branches. Le. sessile or shortly 

 stalked, oblong-obovate, deeply sinuate, blunt, mostly glabrous. 

 Male fl. in a loose catkin or spike. Fruits 2 6 in a long stalked 

 spike. Q. pedunculata, Willd. 



This is the common Oak of our mountain glens, woods, and plantations. (B) 

 T. 45. 



Var. sessiliflora, Salisb. Le. with footstalks varying from \ 

 to 1 in. "Fruits solitary or clustered, either closely sessile on 

 the branch or borne on a short peduncle, very rarely attaining an 

 inch," Benth. 



Occasionally in plantations with the preceding. 



4. CORYLUS. Common Hazel-Nut. 



C. AVELLANA, L. A shrub, sometimes a small tree. Le. 

 broadly cordate or orbicular, pointed, downy beneath. Stipules 

 oblong, blunt, young twigs downy. Catkins appearing before the 

 le. Barren ones 1 2^ in. long, drooping. Fertile fl. on the same 

 branch as a red-tipped bud. Fruit in clusters, with a torn 

 involucre. 



Common. In woods and thickets. (B) Sh. 2 4. Banks of the Kelvin; Car- 

 myle ; Cambuslang glen, &c. 



5. CARPINUS. Common Hornbeam. 



C. BETULUS, L. A tree of moderate size, with numerous 



