406 THE CATKIN FAMILY. [Carpinus. 
long, less drooping than in the allied genera ; the anthers crowned by little 
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 13 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 moneecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, with broad, sessile 
scales, each with 2 small lobés 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 com- 
bined 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. 913). Cindi Hazel, 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 catkins 
drooping, 13 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 husk of the nut. 
In woods and thickets, throughout Europe and central and Russian Asia, 
except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. 7. early spring, before 
the leaves are out. 
VI. FAGUS. BEECH. 
- Flowers moneecious, 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), contain- 
ing 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 oar ises several from 
Chili, Fuegia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, 
