SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



549 



rule of shoots of the current year. Flowers with perianth. Ovary 

 trilocular, with three stigmas ; two, pendulous, anatropous ovules in 

 each loculus. One or more female flowers are enclosed in a cupule 

 formed of coherent bracteoles, which only reaches full development 

 around the fruit. Another interpretation of the cupule is that it 



Fig. 521. — Carpinus bctulus. 1, Branch with male catkins projecting from the buds of the jireced- 

 ing year and female catkins on the growth of the current year. 2, Female catkin in fruit. 

 3, Male flower. U, Stamen. ;i, Bract with two female flowers. 6, Female flower. 7, Fruit, 

 (i, '2, 7, § nat. size; 5-(; enlarged.) 



corresponds to an outgrowth of the axis bearing numerous reduced 

 leaves (Fig. 524). 



Distributed chiefly in tlie temperate zones of tlie northern hemisphere, also in 

 tropical Asia, and one genus {Nothofagus) {^*) in New Zealand, the southern point 

 of S. America, and S. Australia. 



MouE iMi'oiiTANT Species. — Fa/'HS syh-atica, the lieech (Fig. 526), is one of our 

 most important deciduous trees. The leaf is entire, elliptical, shortly stalked, 

 and, especially when young, covered with fine hairs. Leaves two -ranked, 



