376 VARIOUS PLANT GROUPS 



The family consists of woody plants without oil reservoirs 

 or resinous excretions; but ivith simple, stipulate leaves; mid 

 monoecious inflorescences, the staminate mostly amentaceous, 

 the pistillate more or less enclosed in a cupide, which bears dis- 

 tinct, scaly, or spiny bracts; and the pistils of three or more 

 carpels ivith axile placentce. 



124. The beech order (Fagales) comprises only the ))irch 

 and the lieecli families. These agree in having moncecious 

 inflorescences with the staminate flowers mostly in aments, 

 and the pistillcde in spikes or heads; the floivers hypogynous or 

 epigynous; the perianth leaves and stamens distinct and alternate; 

 and the ovary with axile placentas, and more or less completely 

 divided into two or more cavities, all bid one of which becomes 

 obliterated in the fruit. 



See pages 414, 415 for the fonnuhi of Fagales. 



125. The walnut family (Juglandacese). Examples: wal- 

 nut (Fig. 27, page 39), butternut (Fig. 28, page 40), pecan 

 (Fig. 29, page 40), hickory (Fig. 30, page 41), and l)lack 

 walnut (Fig. 246, page 260). 



Formulas of .Juglans, Carj'a, and .Juglaudacete are given on 

 pages 414, 41.5. 



In general appearance the inflorescences of the walnut 

 familjr resemble those of the beech and the birch families, 

 but there is a curious adherence between the bracts, bractlets, 

 and perianth leaves, unlike anything we have seen. Those 

 which belong to each flower are all more or less united to 

 form what at first sight migiit be mistaken for perianth 

 alone. 



The fruit is mostly a drupaceous nut recalling the almond, 

 but with the tough fleshy part dehiscing into four valves and 

 difl'ering also in having the epigynous torus as a component 

 part. 



The walnut family ma,y be distinguished as consisting of 

 trees ivith scented, pinnately compound, cxstipnlaic leaves; and 

 monwcious inflorescenccN, Ihc Ktaniinate anientaceous, the pis- 

 tillate in heads; each iiistil of lu-o carpels: and the fruit a de- 

 hiscent drupe with a ni(t-lil:<- slunc. 



126. The walnut order (Juglandales), contains only the 



