406 THE CATKIN FAMILY, [Oarpinus. 



tufts of hairs. Female catkins slender, the fruiting ones often several 

 inches long, and conspicuous for their long, leaf -like bracts ; the central 

 lobe lanceolate, 1 to 1J inches long. Nut small, ovoid, with prominent 

 ribs. 



In central and south-eastern Europe, extending eastward to the Cau- 

 casus and northwards to southern Sweden. In Britain it is everywhere 

 planted, and is indigenous only in Wales, and central and southern 

 England. Fl. spring, as the leaves come out. 



V. CORYLUS. HAZEL. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, with broad, sessile 

 scales, each with 2 small lobes or adherent scales inside. Stamens about 

 8, irregularly inserted on the scale itself, without any perianth ; the 

 anther- cells distinct, on very short, forked filaments. Female catkins 

 very small, forming a sessile bud, with closely packed, narrow scales, 

 the outer ones empty. Flowers 2 within each scale, crowded in the 

 upper part of the catkin, each one enclosed in a minute jagged inner 

 scale. Perianth combined with the ovary at the base, with a minute 

 toothed border. Ovary 2- celled, with a pendulous ovule in each cell. 

 Styles 2. Fruits usually clustered, each consisting of a hard nut, 

 nearly enclosed in a leafy involucre, unequally lobed and jagged, formed 

 of the very much enlarged inner scales of the catkin. 



A genus of but very few species, spread over the temperate regions 

 of the northern hemisphere. 



1. C. Avellana, Linn. (fig. 915). Common IT. or Nut. — A shrub, or 

 sometimes a small tree. Leaves broadly obovate or orbicular, doubly 

 toothed or slightly lobed, coarse and downy on both sides. Male cat- 

 kins drooping, 1J to 2 inches long ; the females resembling small leaf- 

 buds, with shortly protruding, red stigmas. After flowering the minute 

 inner bracts enlarge very rapidly, so as to form the leafy involucre 

 commonly called the hush of the nut. 



In woods and thickets, throughout Europe and central and Kussian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. Fl. early spring, 

 before the leaves are out. 



VI. FAGUS. BEECH. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in globular, pendulous catkins; the 

 scales small, and falling off very early. Perianth campanulate, shortly 

 stalked, 4- to 6 -lobed (formed of the inner scales within each catkin- 

 scale), containing 8 to 12 stamens, with long protruding filaments and 

 small anthers. Female catkins globular, almost sessile, the scales 

 linear, with numerous, closely packed filiform inner scales, all empty 

 except the uppermost, and forming an involucre round 2 or 3 flowers, 

 sessile in the centre of the catkin. Perianth combined with the ovary 

 at its base, bordered by 4 or 5 short lobes. Ovary 3-celled, with 2 

 pendulous ovules in each cell. Styles 3. Nuts 2 or 3, enclosed in a 

 hard, prickly involucre, composed of the combined outer and inner 

 scales of the catkin, and opening in 4 valves. 



Besides the single northern species, the genus comprises several from 

 Chili, Fuegia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. 



