418 Lxxxvn. conifers. [ Carpinus. 
ovary , and scarcely distinguishable from it. Stigmas 2, filiform. 
Nut invested with the enlarged, united scales of the involucre, 
which are coriaceous at the base, and leafy and laciniate at the 
summit. — Named from sopvc, a casque or cap; the fruit, with 
its involucre, appearing as if covered with a bonnet. 
1. C. Avellana L. ( common IN) ; stipules oblong obtuse, 
leaves roundish- cordate pointed, involucre about the length of 
the fruit, unarmed campanulate 2 — 3-partite rather spreading 
torn at the margin. E. B. t. 723. 
Hedges and copses, abundant, fi. 2 — 4. — The young forked 
twigs of this plant constitute the celebrated divining rod ( virgula 
divinatoria). From the Anglo-Saxons we have derived our word 
hazel-nut, which they called hcesl-nutu ; from hcesel a cap, and hnut, 
a nut, 
5. Carpinus Linn. Hornbeam. 
Barren fl. in a cylindrical catkin; its scales roundish. Slam, 
8 — 14. Anthers 1-celled. — Fertile fl. in a lax catkin; its scales 
small, deciduous. Involucre of 2 distinct stalked leaves ( catkin- 
scales, Linn.), 2-flowered, ultimately large and foliaceous. 
Perianth urceolate, toothed at the apex, incorporated with the 
2-celled ovary , of which one cell is abortive. Stigmas 2. Nuts 
in pairs, one attached to the summit of the stalk of each leaf of 
the involucre, ovate, striate. — Named from car, wood, and pin, 
a head, in Celtic ; the wood having been employed to make 
yokes for oxen. The English “ hornbeam ” has the same 
signification. 
1. C. Betulus L. ( common Hi) ; leaves of the involucre of the 
fruit deeply 3-lobed, central lobe oblong at least 2 — 3 times 
longer than the lateral ones serrate or entire, limb of the 
perianth with short somewhat ovate acute teeth, nut 7 — 11- 
striate. E. B. t. 2032. 
In woods and hedges, in a meagre, damp, tenacious soil, forming 
the principal part of the ancient forests on the north and east sides of 
London. b* 5. — Rather a small tree, with ovate or subcordate 
doubly serrate acute leaves, of which the veins are somewhat hairy, 
and which are beautifully plaited when young. 
Ord. LXXXYII. CONIFERJE Joss. 
(including Taxineaj Rich. 
Monoecious or dioecious, without a perianth . — Barren flowers 
in a deciduous catkin; scales peltate or erect, shortly stalked or 
sessile, bearing near the base at the edge, or on the under side, 
2 or more distinct anther-cells (2 or more monadelphous stamens 
each with a single 1-celled anther ?). — Fertile flowers generally 
in many- or few-fiowered cones, sometimes solitary. Ovary, in 
