CASTANEACEM. 



231 



rise to fifteen. All are formed of a free slender filament, inserted in 

 the centre of a floral receptacle, rarely under a rudimentary gynoe- 

 cium, and of an exserted, bilocular, extrorse anther, dehiscing by 

 two longitudinal clefts. 1 The female catkin (fig. 184) is ordinarily 

 thicker, more rigid and bearing a smaller number of flowers. 2 They 

 have a gourd-like receptacle, with a neck more or less elongate, and 

 the cavity of which entirely shelters the inferior ovary (fig. 185, 180), 



Qucrcits Robur. 



Fis:. 184. Female inflorescence. 



Fig. 183. Male inflorescence. 



187. Fruit. 



whilst its superior opening bears a calyx often having six 3 divisions 

 imbricate in two series, more rarely a lower or higher number. 4. 

 The ovary is surmounted by a style with three branches of variable 

 form, 5 often thickened, dilated and obtuse at their stigmatiferous 

 extremity, entire or slightly lobed. It encloses three 6 cells, more or 

 less incomplete, either above or below, containing each two colla- 

 teral, descending ovules, more or less completely anatropous, with 

 micropyle exterior and superior. 7 The ovary is, at its base, sur- 

 rounded to a variable height by a cupule entirely covered externally 

 with bractlike prominences of very variable dimensions (fig. 185, 

 186), not unfrequently nearly smooth or traversed by folds or wrinkles 

 nearly horizontal or oblique. 8 This cupule persists thickening and 

 hardening around the fruit (fig. 187) which it may even completely 



1 The pollen is " round ; threefold ; in water 

 three linear hands" (H. Mohl, Ann. Se. Nat. 

 sér. 2, iii. 312). 



■ Not unfrequently two or even a single one. 



3 From four to nine. 



4 Here and there are abnormal flowers with 



one or more sterile or fertile stamens, either 

 within or without the perianth 



5 Rarely linear, erect (see p. 233). 



6 Sometimes two or four. 

 1 With double coat. 



8 The morphological signification of this 



