' 142 CHESTNUT [CH. 



The flowers of the Chestnut (Castanea) are green 

 and inconspicuous, as in the cases cited above, but are 

 clustered on stiff spikes. On some of these we find the 

 whole of the upper parts occupied by axillary clusters of 

 male flowers, a few clusters of female flowers occupying 

 the very base (Fig. 41). 



Fig. 41. 1, flowering shoot of Chestnut, showing a spicate inflorescence 

 bearing clusters of ? flowers below and of <f flowers above. 2, section 

 through a cluster (dichasium) of ? flowers ; 3, transverse section of ovary ; 

 4, a <? flower; 5, fruit in the dehiscing cupule (Wo). 



On removing one of the upper bracts, with its axillary 

 cluster of male flowers, we find that the bract (b in 

 Fig. 35, C) bears in its axil bracts (a and /3) and several 



