LXX. CORYLA^CE^E. 845 



pointed, smooth, dotted beneath ; leaf-stalks and twigs quite smooth ; ripe 

 catkins very long, pendulous, cylindrical, crowded ; the rachis, and the 

 bracteas, which are auricled at the base, downy. Found on many of the 

 mountains of Nepal, and in the great valley of that country, following the 

 course of rivers. The flowers and fruit are produced from December to 

 April. It forms a very large and noble tree, from 50 ft. to 60 ft. high, of an 

 oval shape, being covered with branches from its base. The wood is stated 

 by Dr. Wallich to be greatly esteemed by the inhabitants, who employ it for 

 all sorts of purposes where strength and durability are required. ( Wall. PI. 

 As. Rar., t. 109.) Doubtless as hardy as the preceding species. 



B. nitida. The shining Birch. Leaves oblong, taper-pointed, with fine 

 double serratures, the twigs and leaf-stalks hairy. Femaie catkins pendulous, 

 cylindrical, crowded. Bracts three-lobed, hairy, with the lengthened middle 

 lobe longer than the fruit. A tree, found in Kamaon. 



B. cylindrostdchya. Leaves oblong, taper-pointed, heart-shaped, with fine 

 double serratures ; twigs, leaf-stalks, and veins downy ; female catkins pen- 

 dulous, very long, cylindrical ; fruit deeply two-lobed ; bracts linear lanceolate, 

 blunt, membranous, with two teeth at the base, fringed with hairs. A tree, 

 found in Kamaon. Most probably hardy, and, like the preceding species, if 

 not already introduced it will very soon be so. 



ORDER LXX. CORYLA V CE^, OR CUPULI'FEILE. 



ORD. CHAR. Flowers unisexual. Male flowers disposed in cylindrical catkins. 

 Perianth small, scale-formed. Filaments usually free. Female flower. In- 

 volucrum various, 1- or many-flowered. Perianth many-toothed, adhering 

 to the ovarium. Ovarium 1- or many-celled, containing many ovula. 

 Styles 2 3, or multiplied. Stigma, 1 ! distinct. The involucrum, after flores- 

 cence, becoming enlarged, and enclosing, in part or altogether, the pericarps 

 which are either solitary or many together. Acorns, or nuts, 1-celled, 1- 

 seeded, by abortion. Seed pendulous. Albumen none. (G. Don.) 



Leaves simple, alternate, stipulate, deciduous or evergreen; lobed, 

 serrated, or entire. Flowers in catkins, bracteate, sometimes pedunculate. 

 Large trees, deciduous and evergreen ; natives of the temperate regions of 

 every part of the world. 

 The hardy ligneous genera belonging to this order are six, which are thus 



contradistinguished : 



QUE'RCUS Lin Monoecious. Male flowers in loose pendulous catkins. Sta- 

 mens 5 10. Female flowers within an involucrum, which is composed of 

 numerous imbricate scales combined into a cup, which at length surrounds 

 the acorn at the base. 



.FA'GUS Tourn. Monoecious. Male flowers in dense pendulous catkins. Stamens 

 8. Female flowers 2, within a 4-lobed involucrum, which at length encloses 

 the triangular nut echinated with soft spurs outside. 



CASTA'NEA Tourn. Polygamous. Male flowers clustered in long cylindrical 

 catkins. Stamens 5 20. Hermaphrodite flowers about 3 within an involu- 

 crum, which is covered outside with branchy spines, and at length encloses 

 a roundish nut. Stamens 12. Stigmas penciled. 



CA'RPINUS Tourn. Monoecious. Male flowers in long cylindrical catkins 

 having the scales ciliated at their bases. Stamens 8 14. Female flowers 

 in loose strobiles or cones, each composed of a 3-lobed, 2-flowered, scale- 

 formed involucrum. Stigmas 2. Nut bony at the base of the scale. 



O'STRYA Michx. Monoecious. Male flowers in long cylindrical catkins, 

 each flower consisting of a scale and a branched filament. Female flowers 

 in strobiles, each composed of a scale-formed imbricated involucrum. 

 Stigmas 2. Nut bony, at the base of the scale. 



CO'RYLUS Lin. Monoecious. Male flowers in long cylindrical catkins, which 

 are composed of 3-lobed deltoid scales. Stamens 8. Anthers 1-ceiled. 



