Fagaceae
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To Dendrology Genus Directories:
Fagaceae |
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Distribution: Cosmopolitan,
excepting parts of tropical South America and Africa.
Economic Uses: As a source
of timber and cork and as ornamental shade trees.
Defining
Features of Interest: The cupule of
the developed nut or acorn is of debated anatomical origin by
some botanists.
Fossil Evidence: Pollen
in the Upper Cretaceaous and pollen and fossil wood from the Eocene.
Floral Features : Unisexual and monoecious. Flowers are small and borne on inflorescences of catkins, small heads or spikes for male flowers, the female flowers commonly at the base of the male inflorescence. Hypogynous. The female flowers are surrounded by a basal involucre, or bract, which becomes the cupule of the fruit at maturity.
Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a nut or acorn. Seed with no endosperm present.
Vegetative Features : Habit is as shrubs or trees. Leaves are simple, alternate ( rarely opposite or whorled) and pinnately veined. Margins may be entire, toothed or lobed. Stipules are present, but deciduous.
