7 FAMILIES OF ANGIOSPERMS. 



general description here the red oak will serve the purpose. Just 

 as the leaves are expanding in the spring, the delicate sprays of 



pendulous male catkins 

 form beautiful objects. The 

 petals are 

 wanting in the 

 flower, and 

 the sepals 

 form a united 

 calyx, with 

 several lobes, 

 that is, the 

 parts of the 

 calyx are co- 



^^^^. 



Fig- 557- 



Branch of the butter- 

 nut. Cluster of female 

 flowers at the top, show- 

 ing the two styles of 

 each pistil, catkins be- 

 low. 



herent. In the male flowers the calyx is bell-shaped 

 and deeply lobed. The pendant stamens, variable 

 in number, just reach below its margin. The pistil- 

 late or female flowers are not borne in catkins, but 

 stand on short stalks, either singly or a few in a 

 cluster. The calyx here is urn-shaped with short lobes. The 

 ovary consists of three united (coherent) carpels, and there are 

 three stigmas. Only one seed is developed in the ovary, and the 

 fruit is an acorn. The numerous scales at the base of the ovary 

 form a scaly involucre, the cup. 



The beech, chestnut, and oak are members of the oak family. 



The following additional families among the ament-bearers 

 are represented in this country: the birch family (birch, alder), 

 the hazelnut family (hazelnut, hornbeam, etc.), walnut family 

 (hickory, walnut), and the sweet-gale family (myrica). 



