352 - {HE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
a short style, which is divided in three stigmatic branches, added 
to which it is surrounded by a sort of little cup, or cupulla, 
formed by a fold of the peduncle, upon which a large number of 
small imbricated bracts are inserted. The ovarium is three-celled, 
each having two’ anatropal ovules. At maturity, two of these 
three cells, with their contents, are abortive. The fruit, desig- 
nated under the name of an Acorn (Fig. 385), is of an ovoid or 
oblong shape, umbilicated at its summit with a cartilagnous and 
shiny pericarp, becoming from this shape unilocular and mono- 
spermous. Under its covering this seed presents an embryo 
destitute of albumen, the cotyledons of which are convex on the 
outside, and flat on the inside; they are also fleshy and farinaceous. 
The fruit is enveloped at its base by the indurated and ligneous 
cupulla of which we have spoken. ; 
The Oaks belong almost exclusively to the northern hemis- 
phere, where they inhabit the temperate regions, or the high 
mountains of equatorial countries. The species which they 
include, unlike Roses, are scarcely known in a wild state ™ 
the southern hemisphere, their southern limits being the islands 
of the Indian Archipelago, whence they spread westward along 
the Himalayan range until they reach Europe. The Oaks are 
the most majestic trees of our forests, with robust 
and powerful, far-spreading branches. It rg 
divide them into Forest Oaks, or Roburs, Ilemes, and. Clubbed Oaks 
The common Oak, Q. pedunculata, is the true British Oak; 
which is alone suitable for ship-building on account of its et 
bility and hardness; but it is probably more influenced by dé 
soil on which it grows; and for the Oak, the soil of Sussex aL 
to surpass any other; the Sussex Oak is also recognised wee 
best kind employed. This is Q. pedunculata, which is reco 
by the very short stalks of the leaves, while the acorns at pee - 
The Sessile-cupped Oak, Q. sessiflora, sometimes a : 
English Oak, is found all over England, but is more abun ee rth 4 
on long stalks. 
the West, and constitutes the greater part of the Oak in AOF 
Wales. It isof more rapid growth than the last, and * 
much larger dimensions. 
° ith 4 
Quercus sessiflora, represented in Plate XII., 18 4 ae 
Res 
will be convenient . 
