264 



DICOTYLEDONS. 



some localities a more convenient species to study. But for the 

 general description here the red oak will serve the purpose. Just 



(, as the leaves are expand- 



ing in the spring, the deli- 

 cate sprays 

 of pendulous 

 male catkins 

 form beauti- 

 ful objects. 

 The petals 

 are wanting 

 in the ilower, 

 and the sepals 

 form a united 



Fig. 343- 

 Branch of the butter- 

 nut. Cluster of female 

 flowers at the top, show- 

 ing the two styles of each 

 pistil, catkins below. 



calyx, with several lobes, that is, the parts of the 



calyx are coherent. In the male flowers the calyx 



is bell-shaped and deeply lobed. The pendent 



stamens, variable in number, just reach below its 



margin. The pistillate or female flowers are not 



borne in catkins, but stand on short stalks, either singly or a few 



in a cluster. The calyx here is urn-shaped with short lobes. 



The ovary consists of three united (coherent) carpels, and there 



are three stigmas. Only one seed is developed in the ovary, 



and the fruit is an acorn. The numerous scales at the base of 



the ovary form a scaly involucre, the cup. 



511. The beech, chestnut, and oak are members of the oak 

 family. 



512. The following additional families among the ament 

 bearers are represented in this country : the birch family (birch, 

 alder), the hazelnut family (hazelnut, hornbeam, etc.), walnut 

 family (hickory, walnut), and the sweet-gale family (myrica). 



