AMENTACEiE. 



755 



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 pen- 

 dulous 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 genus, the species comprises several from 

 Antarctic America. 



1. Common Beech. Fagus sylvatica, Lino. (Fig. 908.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1846.) 



A tall tree, with a straight, smooth 

 trunk, and large, dense head. Leaves 

 shortly stalked, ovate, entire or ob- 

 scurely toothed, silky when young, gla- 

 brous when full-grown. Catkins or 

 flower-heads softly silky-hairy, the males 

 4 to 6 lines diameter, on slender, droop- 

 ing peduncles 1 to 1J inches long, con- 

 sisting of about a dozen flowers. Fe- 

 male catkins nearly as large, but on a 

 very short, erect peduncle. Fruiting 

 catkin about f inch diameter ; the 

 prickles rather soft and silky, containing 

 2 or 3 triangular nuts, commonly called 

 mast. 



In temperate Europe, extending east- 

 ward to the Caucasus and northward 

 into southern Scandinavia, becoming 

 rather a mountain plant in southern Europe. Extensively planted in 

 Britain, establishing itself readily as a naturalized tree, and believed 

 to be truly indigenous in the flatter districts of England. Fl. 

 spring. 



Fig. 208. 



VII. OAK. QUEECUS. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in slender, pendulous catkins or 

 spikes, usually interrupted, without any or with only very small 

 catkin-scales. Stamens 6 to 12, with slender filaments, surrounded by 

 about as many narrow scales, sometimes united into an irregular pe- 



