58 



ACADEMIC BOTANY. 



Fig. 66. — Female fls. of Oak {Quercua robur): 

 A, entire fl. ; B, vertical section. 



combed with pores, to insure the escape of the 

 pollen. 



The Mistletoe was held in great reverence by 

 the Druids ; they saw a mysterious emblem of 

 immortality in this evergreen 

 shrub living and producing its 

 kind without touching the 

 earth. It was especially prized 

 when found on the Oak, their 

 sacred tree. We know how 

 beloved it is and has always 

 been in festival, song, and 

 story by Europeans and their descendants throughout the world. 



There are several genera. Among 

 them is the noted Plame-tree or 

 Pire-tree of Australia, with conspic- 

 uous racemes of handsome yellow 

 flowers which give it its name. It 

 grows to the height of 30 feet, and 

 is the only genus that is not a para- 

 site. 



94. The Oaks are here. They are 

 apetalous ; diclinous and monoe- 

 cious ; the male flowers in cat- 

 kins, the females solitary, or from 

 2 to 5, sessile in a common invo- 

 lucre composed of many small 

 bracts, and which is called a Ou- 

 pule, or cup (Fig- 66). The calyx 

 of the male flower is conspicuous. 

 In the female it shows as a rim 

 just below the styles and above 

 the cup. The female flower has 3 



styles ; an ad- Fiq. 67.— European Walnut (JngtaoB 



herent ovary regia) ; branches with ^ and 9 As- Nut 



■ . fl „ „ + o ' with its fleshy epicarp removed. Half 



ai UTS I -i- ofu Kernel (one of the two fleshy cotv- 



\t''^V^7li i\^ tJ celled, each ledons). 



cell with 2 ovules ; but 

 one ovule outgrows the 

 others, obliterates them, 

 and completely fills the 

 acorn shell (which is the 

 pericarp), making it 1- 

 celled and 1-seeded. 



95. The Walnuts (Pig. 

 67) follow the Oalcs ; the 

 male flowers in catkins, 

 the females single or in 

 pairs. 



96. The Rqfflesia (Pig. 

 68), of Sumatra, is in this 



subdivision. This plant consists of the flower alone (which is 3 feet 



Fig. 68. — BaffleBia Amoldi; 2 plants, cf and 9 • 



