400 



TREES AND SHRUBS. 



NUTS 



understand why Beech is called a " shade-enduring " tree 

 (more so than any other tree in Britain), while Birch is called 

 a " light-demanding" tree. 



The long zigzag twigs have the buds standing off at an 

 angle of about 60; the end bud may either persist or be 

 replaced by the uppermost side bud. Each bud stands at 

 the side (upper side) of the leaf -scar (small, oval, with three 



bundle-scars). In autumn 

 the tips of the shoots cease 

 to form leaves, but keep on 

 forming stipules which act 

 as bud-scales. The scales 

 are pale brown, arranged 

 B *,, ,..., in four rows ; the outermost 



scales are broad, short, 

 pointed, but those further 

 in are longer, narrower, and 

 more delicate in texture. 

 The first seven or eight 

 pairs of scales have no leaves, 

 but the innermost pairs have 

 a small leaf-blade between 

 them, then come the pleated 

 foliage-leaves with their sti- 

 pules densely covered with 

 silky hairs. 



As a rule the highest buds on a twig grow into long shoots, 

 those lower down into dwarf shoots, and the lowest ones 

 remain dormant ; the dormant buds do not, however, remain 

 alive and capable of growth for nearly so many years in 

 Beech (rarely 20 years) as in other trees, hence one does not 

 see young shoots growing from the old trunks of Beeches, 

 like those on Oak, Elm, Hornbeam, etc. 



The flowers, which come out with the leaves in spring, are 

 in clusters at the ends of slender branches which arise singly 

 in the axils of the leaves, the female clusters being higher up 

 on the twig than the male. The male branch has a long 

 hanging stalk ; that of the female branch is shorter, thicker, 

 and erect. The numerous male flowers (Fig. 168, B) have 

 each a bell-shaped " calyx " with five to seven teeth, covered 

 with hairs, and about ten stamens. .The female branch has 



CUPULE - 



Fig. 108. Beech. 



A, Male inflorescence; B, Male flower; C, 

 Female inflorescence ; D, Cupule with nuts. 



