AMEKtACE^. 471 



In moors and bogs, in northern Europe, Asia, and America, and in the 

 great mountain-chaius of central Europe and Asia. Not uncommon in tlie 

 Highlands of Scotland, but rare in the north of England, and unknown in 

 Ireland. Fl. spnng. 



IV. HORNBEAM. CARPINUS. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, with broad, sessile 

 scales. Stamens about 12 under each scale, without inner scales or pe- 

 rianth ; the anther-cells distinct, on very short, forked filaments. Female 

 catkins slender and loose, the scales lanceolate and deciduous. Flowers 2 

 under each scale, each one enclosed in a hairy, unequally 3-lobed inner scale. 

 Perianth combined with the ovary at the base, with a minute toothed 

 border. Ovary 2-celled, with a pendulous ovule in each cell. Styles 2. 

 Fruiting catkin much elongated, the inner scales enlarged into long, leaiy, 

 unequally 3-lobed bracts, each enclosing at its base a small nut. 



There are but very few European, Asiatic, or North American species, 

 differing slightly from each other in the shape of the fruiting bracts. 



1. Common Hornbeam. Carpinus Betulus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2032.) 



A small tree, witli numerous short, slender branches. Leaves stalked, 

 ovate, pointed, doubly toothed, with parallel veins diverging from the 

 midrib, usually downy in their axils underneath. Male catkins sessile, 

 about. \\ inches long, loss drooping than in the alUed genera ; the anthers 

 crowned by httle tufts of hairs. Female catkins slender, the fruiting ones 

 often several inches long, and conspicuous for their long, leaf-Uke bracts > 

 the central lobe lanceolate, 1 to IJ inches long. Nut small, ovoid, with 

 prominent ribs. 



In central and south-eastern Evu-ope, extending eastward to the Cau- 

 casus and northwards to southern Sweden. In Britain, it was formerly 

 much planted in shrubberies, and is believed to be truly indigenous in some 

 parts of eastern England. Fl. spring, as the leaves come out. 



V. HAZEIi. CORYLITS. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in cyUndrical catkins, with broad, sessile 

 scales, each with 2 small lobes or adherent scales inside. Stamens about 8, 

 irregularly inserted on the scale itself, without any perianth ; the anther-cells 

 distinct, on very short, forked filaments. Female catkins very small, form- 

 ing a sessUe bud, with closely packed, narrow scales, the outer ones empty. 

 Flowers 2 under each cell, crowded in the upper part of the catkin, each 

 one enclosed in a minute, jagged inner scale. Perianth combined with the 

 ovary at the base, with a minute, toothed border. Ovary 2-celled, with a 

 pendulous ovule in each scale. Styles 2. Fruits usually clustered, each 

 consisting of a hard nut, nearly enclosed in a leafy involucre, unequally 

 lobed and jagged, formed of the very much enlarged inner scales of the 

 catkin. 



A genus of but very few species, spread over the temperate regions of 

 the northern hemisphere. 



