GROUP IV. — PHAXEUOGAMIA : DTCOTYLEDONES : MONOCHLAMYDE^. 583 



uppermost bud- scales (pairs of stipules) on both long and dwarf-shoots of the 

 same year ; the $ catkins in the axils of the foliage-leaves of the terminal 

 shoots : flowering takes place shortly after the unfolding of the leaves. The 

 ovules are ascending. The hypogean cotyledons remain enclosed in the testa 

 during germination. Quercus Rohur is the English species, of which there are 

 two varieties, Quercus 2>^danculat(i and Quercus seasilijiora : the former has 

 elongated ? catkins, so that the fruits are widely separated from each other, 

 and its pinnately lobed leaves are shortly stalked and cordate at tlie base : 

 the latter has compact ? catkins, so that the fruits form a cluster, and its 

 le-ives have longer petioles, and are narrowed at the base. Quercus Suber is 

 tbe Cork-Oak of Southern Europe. There are also several North American 

 species. 



In Fagus, the Beech, the catkins of both kinds are stalked dichasial clusters, 

 borne each in the axil of a foliage-leaf. The flowers have no bracts, or bracteoles, 

 except the cupule of the ? flower. The flowers of the pendulous ^ catkin are 



Fig. 387. - Fruit of 

 Caiqnnus Betnlus with 

 three-lobed cupule. 



Fig. SSS.—Qaercus pedunculatn. A S flower magnifled 

 1> perianth ; a stamens. B $ flower magnified : d bract ; c 

 cupule; p the epigynous perianth; g the style; n the 

 stigma. C The same, still more magnified, in longitudinal 

 section; /ovary ; 8 ovules. 



closely packed ; they have a perianth of 4-7 segments, and 8-12 stamens. The 

 erect ^ catkin consists of two flowers only, which are invested by a tetramerous 

 cupule. The cupule is covered with hard bristles, and when ripe splits into four 

 valves to allow the two triquetrous fruits to escape ; each fruit bears at its apex 

 H brush-like remnant of tbe perianth. The ovules are suspended. The ? 

 inflorescences are borne on erect axes in the axils of the leaves of the apical 

 shoot of the same year, the S on pendulous axes springing from the axils of 

 the lower leaves of the shoot. Leaves distichous, approaching each other on 

 the under surfaces of the shoots, their axillary buds approaching each other on 

 the upper surface : the winter buds are elongated and pointed. The epigean 

 cotyledons escape from the seed on germination. Fagus sylvatica is tbe 

 common Beech : varieties with tinted leaves, such as the Purple Beech and the 

 Copper Beech, are commonly cultivated. 

 In Castanea, the edible or Spanish Chestnut, some of the catkins conflist at 



