DICOTYLEDONS 



constituted of the two large fleshy cotyledons (cot) of the 

 embryo. Dissemination.— The fruits merely fall to the ground, 

 or may be carried away by animals (especially squirrels) for 

 future use. 



Pollination. — The flowers are wind-pollinated. When the 



staminate catkins have ma- 

 tured they bend down, and, 

 as their bracts separate, the 

 anthers dehisce and drop 

 pollen on to the bracts below 

 them. The pendulous cat- 

 kins are easily shaken by 

 the wind, and the pollen 

 may reach the tufts of 

 stigmas. 



(i.) Note the inconspicuousness of the flowers which are not 

 visited to any appreciable extent by insects. 



(ii.) That a large amount of dry pollen is produced, and 

 easily shaken from the flowers. 



(iii.) The large filamentous stigmas., 



(iv.) The absence of nectaries. 



All these are common features of wind-pollinated flowers. 



Fig. 139. — Two nuts of Hazel invested 

 with cupules (c/). 



