346 FLORA OF TASMANIA. {CupuliferCB. 
Gen. I. FAGUS, L. 
Flores monoiei. Masc. Perianthium campanulatum, 5-6-fidum. Stamina 8-12,, circa discum glandu- 
losum inserta; antheris bilocularibus, counectivo excurrente. Fcem. Mores 2-4, involucro urceolato 4-lobo 
extus bracteis adnatis instructo scssiles. Perian abo cum ovario adnato, ore laciniato. 
Ovarium inferum, sessile, 3-loculare; stylis 3, filiformibus, exsertis; ov is, e apice loculi 
pendulis, anatropis. Fruclus capsulseformis. Nuculce 2-4, involucro lignoso 4-valvi extus lamellato v. 
echinato inclusse, triquetral, perigonii limbo piloso superatfe, monospermas ; epicarpio coriaceo, endocarpio 
villoso. Semen pendulum ; testa mcmbranacea, tenui ; cmbryone exalbumiuoso, orthotropo ; cotyledonibus 
crassis, carnosis, iutus plicatis, arete cohserentibus ; radicula subexserta, supera. — Arbores v. frutices, gemmis 
perulatis ; foliis alternii, .v v el membranaceis plicatis et deciduis; floribus 
Dissimilar as they appear at first sight, the genera Oak, Chesnut, and Beech are very closely allied indeed, 
and in their female flowers almost identical, Fagus alone differing materially from its allies in having a well-marked 
perianth to the male flowers, and in these not being arranged in catkins.— Monoecious, evergreen or deciduous 
trees or shrubs, with scaly buds, and alternate, crenate or serrate, simple, generally unequal-sided leaves. Male 
flowers of eight to twelve stamens, seated round a glandular disc, occupying the centre of a bell-shaped or cup- 
shaped five- or six-lobed perianth. Female flowers generally in threes, sessile in a four-lobed, coriaceous or woody 
involucre, whose lobes are externally lamellated transversely or spinulose with adherent bracts. Each female flower 
consists of a small urceolate perianth, whose large tube is adherent to a three-celled ovary, and limb generally 
silky and laciniate. Styles three, exserted. Ovules solitary in each cell, pendulous. As the fruit ripens, each 
flower assumes the appearance of a triquetrous nut, containing one exalbuminous seed, surrounded by a membra- 
nous testa, and that again by the coriaceous brown perianth adnate with the proper pericarp ; the two other cells, 
with their ovules, being obliterated. Cotyledons firm, fleshy, often plaited internally, more or less connate ; radicle 
superior. (Name, ^os in Greek, from <j>ayw, to eat.) 
1. Fagus Cunninghamii (Hook. Journ. Bot. vii. anno 1840, 152, t. 7) ; foliis sempervirentibus 
crasse conaceis rhombeis ovato-deltoideis grosse insequaliter crenato-dentatis basi cuneatis cordatisve junio- 
ribus non plicatis, involucri laciniis 4 oblongo-lanceolatis spmis mollibus apice incrassatis seriebus trans- 
versa iastructis. {Gunn, 178.) 
Hab. Common, especially in mountainous and western humid districts, forming a large proportion of 
the forest, and ascending to 4000 feet as a shrub. (Colonial name, "Myrtle-tree.") 
Distrib. Wilson's Promontory, Victoria, Mueller. 
This well-known tree, though so common in Tasmania, appears to be extremely rare on the Australian coast, 
and confined (?) to the locality where gathered by Mueller. It is readily distinguished from the following by its 
coriaceous, evergreen leaves, as well as by its size, etc. In Tasmania, Gunn says that it forms the principal tree 
in fully one-half of the forests, growing mixed with Eucalyptus and Jtherosperma ; its shade is so dense that no grass 
grows under it, the surface of the ground being covered with Mosses, Hepatic*, Ferns, and Fungi. Even animals 
and birds are rare, except flocks of the Black Cockatoo, which feed on the grubs contained in the decaying trees. 
It often attains 40 feet in girth, and 200 in height, yielding an excellent timber. 
2. Fagus Gunnii (Nob. in Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 881) ; fruticosa, prostrata v. suberecta, ramulis foliis- 
que subtus secus nervos pilosis, foliis deciduis membranaceis, junioribus plicatis, brevissime petiolatis late 
ovato-rotundatis basi subobliquis obtusis emarginatisve crenato-serratis, stipulis subulatis basi gibboso-in- 
flatis, mvolucn laciniis 4 linearibus integris dorso simplici serie lamellatis Lamelfe smuaiu-erenatis, nucibus 
late 3-alatis. {Gunn, 2034). 
