262 



THE STUDY OF TREES. 



Birch (Beiula alba). Male and female catkins separate 

 on same tree. Male pendulous at tips of shoots, formed in 

 autumn. Female catkins erect. Appear along with leaves. 

 Wind-pollinated. Fruit, single- seeded, winged (samara). 

 Three such occur on a single bract. Leaves long- stalked, 

 triangular, serrate. Bark silvery, with brown patches and 

 streaks. 



Beech (Fayus sylvatica). Male and female flowers on 

 same tree. Male flowers in purplish brown, clusters at 



end of long drooping stalk 

 (compare Oak, in which the 

 male flowers are clustered 

 along the stalk). Female 

 flowers clustered in two to four 

 in a cupule of overlapping 

 scales which becomes hard and 

 woody later. Wind-pollinated. 

 Leaves along with flowers. 

 Fruit a nut, occurring two 

 within a cupule. Leaves ovate, 

 glossy, thin. Bark smooth, 

 greyish. 



Fig. 140. The Oak, with flouers. 



Hawthorn (Crataeyus oxya- 

 cantha*). Flowers bisexual in 

 clusters (corymbs) , petals white 

 (or pink), stamens pink, frag- 

 rant. Appearing after leaves. 

 Insect-pollinated. Fruit popularly termed " Haws," of the 

 same type as the Apple (Pome). Leaves wedge-shaped, 

 lobed. Bark reddish grey, scaly. 



Mountain Ash or Rowan (Pyrus aucuparia). Flowers 

 bisexual like hawthorn but smaller, in creamy white clus- 

 ters (corymb). Fruit a Pome like Hawthorn, scarlet, the 

 rowan. Leaves large, compound; leaflets serrate. Bark 

 smooth, scarred transversely. 



