718 CCXIII. LOEAJSTTHACE^ 



included; filaments often divided or bifid; anthers with separated, cells, usually hairy 

 at the top. Eudimentary ovabt 0. — Flowers $ in a short spike, geminate in each 

 bract, and each furnished with very accrescent bracteoles. Perianth superior, 

 irregularly lobed at the top. Ovakt inferior, imperfectly- 2-celled by 2 prominent 

 placentas, of which one only bears at the top 2 pendulous anatropous ovules, each 

 with a single integument ; style very short, divided into 2 elongated linear stigmas. 

 Nut largely umbilicate at the base, enclosed in a foliaceous lobed or laciniate invo- 

 lucre. Seed solitary. Embeto straight, exalbuminous ; cotyledons fleshy, their inner 

 faces appressed, longer than the small superior radicle. 



GENEEA. 

 * Ostrya. * Carpinus. Distegocarpus. * Corj-lus. 



Corylacece can only be distinguished from Ciipuliferts by their aehlamydeous male flowers consisting 

 of a staminiferous bract, and by the foliaceous or tubular laciniate involucre of their fruit, which is 

 acid in taste. They inhabit cold or temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. 



The Filbert or Hazel {Corylus Avelland) is a shrub spread over Europe and northern Asia. Its seed is 

 of an agreeable taste, and yields by expression a bland undrying oil ; its bark is astringent and considered 

 a febrifuge. C. Cohirna and tuhulosa, which grow in southern Europe, C. rostrata and americana, of North 

 America, bear edible fruits like the Filbert. The Hornbeam {Carpinus Setulus) is an indigenous tree with 

 elegant foliage, cultivated for hedges. Its wood is white, very fine and close, and becomes exceedingly hard 

 when dry. It is used for wheelwright's work, screws of presses, and handles of tools, and is besides a 

 very good fuel. The scales of the fruit of Ostrya are covered with piurient hairs. 



CCXIII. LORANTHACE^. 



(LoRANTHE^, Jussieu. — LoRANTHACB^, Liudl. — ViSCOlDE^, Richard.) 



Flowers diclinous or g . Perianth simple, often girt by a colycule. Sepals 

 4-6-8, rarely 3, inserted round an epigynous disk, distinct or coherent, cpstivation 

 valvate. Stamens as many as the sepals, inserted on them and opposite. Ovary 

 inferior, 1-cclled, 1-ovuled ; ovule sessile, erect, orthotropous ; style simple. Fruit 

 aherry. AjjBTJMEN fleshy. 'Embryo straight ; radicle superior. — Parasitic shrubs. 

 Leaves entire. 



Evergreen shrubs, parasitic on the wood of other Dicotyledons, sometimes 

 appearing epiphytal, and emitting roots which creep over the branches of the infested 

 tree ; branches knotted, very often jointed, cylindric, 4-gonous or compressed. 

 Leaves opposite, rarely alternate or whorled, thick, coriaceous, entire, penni- or 

 palmi-nerved, nerves inconspicuous, sometimes reduced to stipuliform scales, or • 

 stipules 0. Flowers sometimes imperfect, small, inconspicuous, whitish or greenish- 

 yellow, sometimes perfect, brightly coloured, variously arranged, usually furnished 

 ■^ith 1 or several bracts, and with a calycule simulating an outer perianth, which 

 is sometimes obsolete. Perianth single (calyx), superior in the 5 , inserted in the 

 ? around a disk crowning the top of the ovary ; sepals 4-6-8, rarely 3, distinct, or 

 connate into a tube often split on one side, sestivation valvate. Stamens equal and 



