AMENTACEiE. 



753 



IV. HORNBEAM. CARPINUS. 



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

 sessile scales. Stamens about 12 within each scale, without inner 

 scales or perianth ; the anther-cells distinct, on very short, forked 

 filaments. Female catkins slender and loose, the scales lanceolate and 

 deciduous. Flowers 2 within each scale, each one enclosed in a hairy, 

 unequally 3-lobed inner scale. Perianth combined with the ovary at 

 the base, with a minute toothed border. Ovary 2-celled, with a pen- 

 dulous ovule in each cell. Styles 2. Fruiting catkin much elongated, 

 the inner scales enlarged into long, leafy, unequally 3-lobed bracts, 

 each enclosing at its base a small nut. 



There are but very few European, Asiatic, or JNorth American 

 species, differing slightly from each other in the shape of the fruiting 

 bracts. 



1. Common Hornbeam. Carpinus Betulus, Linn. (Fig. 906.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2032.) 



A small tree, with numerous short, 

 slender branches. Leaves stalked, ovate, 

 pointed, doubly toothed, with parallel 

 veins diverging from the midrib, usually 

 downy in their axils underneath. Male 

 catkins sessile, about 1^ inches long, 

 less drooping than in the allied genera ; 

 the anthers crowned by little tufts of 

 hairs. Female catkins slender, the fruit- 

 ing ones often several inches long, and 

 conspicuous for their long, leaf-like 

 bracts ; the central lobe lanceolate, 1 to 

 1^ inches long. Nut small, ovoid, with 

 prominent ribs. 



In central and south-eastern Europe, 

 extending eastward to the Caucasus and 

 northwards to southern Sweden. In 

 Britain, it was formerly much planted in shrubberies, and is believed 

 to be truly indigenous in some parts of eastern England. Fl. spring, 

 as the leaves come out. 



Fig. 906. 



Y. HAZEL. COKYLUS. 



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



VOL. II. U 



