472 
XCIV. CUPULIFERiE 
or minute and numerous in cones or spikes. — Europe, mountains 
of Asia and America, and S. temperate regions. — From the Latin 
cupula, a little cup ; referring to the shape of the involucre in the 
fruit of Quercus. 
In the flowers of this Order the pollen is conveyed to the stigmas by the 
wind. 
Nuts small, seed-like, numerous, in cones or spikes. 
Nuts flattened. 
Stamens 2. Bracts of cone thin, ultimately falling off 1. Belula. 
Stamens 4. Bracts of cone thick, woody, persistent . . 2. Alnus. 
Nuts globose, ribbed. Bracteoles much enlarged, lobed and 
leaf -like in fruit ........ 5. Carpinus. 
Nuts large, solitary or in clusters of 2-3. 
Nuts or acorns more or less enclosed in a cup . . .3. Quercus. 
Nuts more or less enclosed in the enlarged inner bract . . 4. Gorylus. 
1. BETULA. The Latin name of the Birch. — N. temperate 
and Arctic regions. 
Trees ; bark smooth and paper-like, peeling off in thin sheets. 
Leaves .stalked, ovate, long-pointed, sharply and irregularly 
toothed. Male catkins drooping : flowers bracteate, in groups of 
usually three ; perianth 4-parted, segments sometimes fewer by 
abortion ; stamens 2, filaments minutely forked, anther-cells 
separated. Female cones drooping or nearly erect : flowers 
bracteate, in groups of usually three ; perianth none ; ovary 
2- celled ; style long, slender. Nuts minute, flattened, winged 
on both sides ; bracts 3 -lobed, ultimately falling off. 
The bark of B. utilis, and of some other species, is used as paper for writing 
and packing, also for making umbrellas. The ‘ twig bridges 5 of the inner 
Himalaya are made of the branches. 
Female cones usually solitary. Lobes of fruiting bract nearly 
equal . . . . . . . . . 1. B. utilis. 
Female cones usually in clusters. Mid- lobe of fruiting bract 
much the longest . . . . . . . . 2. B. alnoides. 
1. Betula utilis, Don ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 599. Outer bark white, 
inner layers pink. Leaves 2-3 in. Female cones usually single : 
lobes of fruiting bract nearly equal. 
The Chor, and perhaps Huttoo, not under 10,000 ft. ; April, May. — Tem- 
perate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Sikkim and Bhotan, 7000-14,000 ft. — 
Afghanistan, Japan. 
2. Betula alnoides. Buck. -Ham. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 599. Leaves 
3- 6 in. Female cones usually in clusters ; mid-lobe of fruiting 
bract much the longest. 
Simla, Narkunda, 6000-9000 ft. ; April- June, and sometimes in the autumn, 
— Temperate and subtropical Himalaya, Khasia and Martaban Hills. 
2. ALNUS. The Latin name of the genus. — N. temperate 
regions ; the Andes. 
