BEECH FAMILY 165 



rupted circle. The parenchyma associated with the sieve is in part 

 lignified; calcium oxalate occurs in monoclinic prisms, rosette 

 aggregates and as micro-crystals; medullary rays are from 3 to 5 

 cells wide, the walls being very thin and occasionally those near the 

 stone cells are lignified. 



It contains betulin, a camphoraceous, resin-like substance; 3 

 per cent of tannic acid which is colored greenish by solutions of ferric 

 salts; also gallic acid and a bitter principle. 



Literature. Zornig, Arzneidrogen. 



FA.GACE.E, OR BEECH FAMILY 



A family of monoecious trees or shrubs which are of a very wide 

 geographic distribution. The three general representatives are 

 beech or Fagus, the chestnut or Castanea, and the oak or Quercus. 

 The oaks are among the most historic of our trees, and are noted for 

 their strength, durability and longevity. While they do not attain 

 the height of the Eucalypts or Sequoias, their trunks may be of con- 

 siderable circumference (Fig. 72). Most species do not attain matur- 

 ity before fifty or one hundred years, and some have attained an age 

 between five hundred and one thousand years. They furnish the 

 most important woods of the world, and the bark is used in tanning 

 and dyeing and some are used in medicine. The acorns are largely 

 used as a food for swine. The chestnuts are chiefly valued on account 

 of their edible nuts, although the bark is also used in tanning and 

 the leaves have been used in medicine. 



The beeches are among the most beautiful forest trees. Owing 

 to the fact that the wood is not affected when immersed in water, 

 it is largely used in the construction of dams, water mills, etc. In 

 connection with the distillation of the wood of the red beech of 

 Europe (Fagus silvatica) and the Southern beech (F. ferruginea) a 

 beech-wood creosote is obtained which is largely employed in medi- 

 cine for a number of purposes. 



The barks of Quercus and Castanea are distinguished by the pro- 

 duction of interrupted circles of groups of bast fibers, each being 

 surrounded with crystal fibers. In addition there are numerous 

 groups of stone cells. The parenchyma and medullary ray cells are 

 filled with tannin. The hairs are unicellular in Fagus and tufted 

 as well as peltate in both Castanea and Quercus. The stomata do 

 not possess any neighboring cells. Calcium oxalate occurs in the 

 form of rosette aggregates and solitary crystals. 



