BEECH: OAK 255 



and tough, reddish-brown. Each g flower consists of a 

 bell-shaped, irregularly 5 6-toothed, pubescent perianth, 

 with 8 12 exserted stamens. Each $ flower consists of a 

 trigonal ovary, with 3 chambers, each containing 2 ovules, 

 and a trifid stigma projecting beyond the epigynous 

 4 6-lobed perigone. The cupule closes in over each pair 

 of flowers, and enlarges with the fruit, at length becoming 

 hard and thick and splitting regularly into 4 valves. 

 Seed 1, with curiously folded cotyledons. 



ft The $ flowers isolated and sessile, at intervals 

 along a thin pendulous stalk ; $ flowers each 

 invested at the base, and singly, by a cup- 

 like scaly cupule, from which it protrudes; 

 in sessile or stalked groups. Fruit a more 

 or less ovoid nut (Quercus). 



[Each flower is composed of a spreading perianth, 

 not very conspicuous, of about 5 7 lobes, with 4 12 

 short stamens, and arises from the axil of a subtending 

 bract. There is no trace of an ovary. Each $ flower con- 

 sists of a rounded 3-celled ovary, with 2 ovules in each 

 cell, and more or less flattened styles, bearing stigmatic 

 surface above ; the whole in an investing perigone with 

 about 6 teeth, and surrounded at the base by the solid 

 scaly cup-shaped cupule. The ripe nut (acorn) contains 

 1 large seed, with fleshy cotyledons, its apex projecting 

 more or less : within the shell may be found the starved 

 remains of the aborted seeds. Flowers monoecious and 

 anemophilous ; proterogynous.] 



Stigmatic arms much shorter than the rest [For ( o O ) 

 of the flower with its cupule stumpy and see P- 260.] 

 smooth; cupule scales closely appressed^ grey; 

 shell of acorn thin and with no remains of 

 septa. 



