Fagaceae, and its Bearing on the Affinities of the Group. 517 
in g spines. Three such ‘ valves 5 usually separate each nut from its neigh- 
bours, but this trimerous arrangement is only an effect of pressure, for , 
as we have seen, the valves represent axes which form part of dichasial 
inflorescences. 
Prantl (20) was able to distinguish in several species of Pasania 
two bracteoles below the cupule, and hence concluded that it must in these 
cases be an outgrowth of the axis of the primary flower, and that the many 
scales on it were metamorphosed leaves ; he also extended this view to the 
Fig. 5. Longitudinal section through ovary and adjacent cupule valve, just before the 
time of fertilization, x 44. 
cupules of Quercus where the primary bracteoles are not clearly distin- 
guishable. He states that the secondary flowers of the dichasia are present 
in Pasania , and therefore regards the cupule as an intercalary growth ; ho 
points out that the reduced leaves appear upon it in acropetal succession, 
but seem to be retarded till after the development of the floral leaves at the 
apex of the shoot. 
If, however, we extend what seems a perfectly obvious interpretation of 
the cupule in the case of Castanopsis chrysophylla to Quercus , and regard its 
cupule also as a modification of the fused secondary axes of the dichasium, 
