482 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



leaves alternate, stipulate ; male flowers 

 amentaceous; perianth membranous, valvate; 

 stamens 3-20 ; female flowers aggregate or 

 amentaceous; ovary 2- or more celled, crowned 

 by remains of the adherent perianth, seated 

 within a coriaceous involucre ; ovules twin or 

 solitary, peltate or pendulous ; stigmas seve- 

 ral, distinct ; fruit bony or membranous, 1- 

 celled, more or less enclosed in the involucre. 

 Inhabit forests in temperate parts of both 

 hemispheres. A very valuable group, em- 

 bracing the oak, beech, hazel-nut, Spanish- 

 chesnut ; and affording, besides excellent 

 timber, cork, gall-nuts, Velonia, Quercitron, 

 nuts, filberts, chesnuts, &c. (Quercinece, 

 Juss. Gupuliferce, Eich.) 



YX. ORDER. — Euphorbials (Euphorbiales). 



Flowers monodichlamydeous, scattered; carpels 

 superior, consolidated ; placentae axile ; embryo 

 large, surrounded by abundant albumen. 

 1. Family. — Pitcher-plants (Nepenthacese). Herbs, 

 or half-shrubs ; leaves alternate, slightly 

 sheathing at the base, having a dilated, foli- 

 aceous petiole, pitcher-shaped at the extre- 

 mity, with a lid-like lamina ; inflorescence 

 racemose, terminal, dense ; flowers dioecious ; 

 perianth 4-parted; aestivation imbricate; sta- 

 mens united into a solid column ; anthers about 

 sixteen, extrorse ; ovary 4-cornered, 4-celled ; 

 ovules ; stigma sessile ; fruit capsular, 



