Amentaceae is the family of trees and plants where the flowers are arranged in the form of catkins (amenta). The family is broken up into several orders, the chief of which are Betulaceae (the birch), Salicinese (the willow), Balsamifluae (the liquidambar), Plataneae (the plane), and Cupuliferae (the nut). Research Amentaceae
The beech is a deciduous, shallow-rooted forest tree of the genus Fagus, family Fagaceae, natural order Cupuliferae, native to the northern hemisphere and well known in various parts of the world including New Zealand. The Fagus sylratica, a common European forest-tree, sometimes reaches a height of 35 meters, with a diameter of one or more, is known by its waved and somewhat oval leaves, its triangular fruit inclosed by pairs in a prickly husk, and by its smooth and silvery bark. The wood is hard and brittle, and if exposed to the air liable soon to decay. It is, however, peculiarly useful to cabinet-makers and turners, carpenters' planes, furniture, sabots, etc, being made of it; and it is durable under water for piles and mill-sluices.
The fruit or beech-mast, when dried and powdered, may be made into a wholesome bread; it has also occasionally been roasted and used as a substitute for coffee, and yields a sweet and palatable oil used by the poorer of Silesia instead of butter. Beech-mast is, however, chiefly used as food for swine, poultry, and other animals. The leaves of the beech-tree collected in the autumn, before they have been injured by the frosts, have in some places in the past been used to stuff mattresses. Young beech trees keep their dead leaves, and are often used as hedges.
The North American white beech is identical with the European species. Red-leaved varieties are now common, the American Fagus ferruginea being of this colour. Research Beech
The chestnut (popularly known as the sweet chestnut) is a genus of plants, of the order Cupuliferae, allied to the beech. The common or Spanish chestnut (Castanea vesca) is a stately tree, with large, handsome, serrated, dark-green leaves. The fruit consists of two or more seeds enveloped in a prickly husk. Probably a native of Asia Minor, it has long been naturalized in Europe, and was perhaps introduced into Britain by the Romans - some sources suggest it may be indigenous. The tree grows freely in Britain, and may reach the age of many centuries. The timber of the tree was formerly more in use than it is now; it is inferior to that of the oak, though very similar to it in appearance, especially when old. Two American species of chestnuts, Chestnut americana and Chestnut pumila (the latter a shrub), have edible fruits. The former is often regarded as identical with the European tree. The name of Cape Chestnut is given to a beautiful tree of the rue family, a native of South Africa. The MoretonBay Chestnut is a leguminous tree of Australia, Castanospe-mum australe, with fruits resembling those of the chestnut. The water-chestnut is the water-caltrop, Trapa natans. The horse chestnut is quite a different tree from the common or sweet chestnut. Research Chestnut
Cupuliferae is a family of trees distributed chiefly in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere and also in tropical Asia. The family is so named from the peculiar husk or cup (cupule) in which the fruit is inclosed and includes the beech, chestnut, oak and birch. Research Cupuliferae
Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) is a small bushy tree of the natural order Cupuliferae common in Britain, and often used in hedges, as it stands cutting and in age becomes very stiff. The wood is white, tough, and hard, and is used in turnery, and formerly for cogs of wheels, etc. The inner bark yields a yellow dye. The American hornbeam (Carpinus americana) is a small tree sparingly diffused over the whole of the United States. The wood is finegrained, tenacious, and very compact. Research Hornbeam
The oak is a tree of the genusQuercus, family Fagaceae, family Cupuliferae. They have a three-celled ovary and bear a round nut called an acorn. The timber of the British oak - the Pedunculate Oak or Common Oak (Quercus robur) is very hard, though prone to twisting, and was formerly used for building warships. Research Oak
Quercus is a genus of trees and shrubs belonging to the family Cupuliferae. The species include
Quercus robur, the black or common oak. Research Quercus
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Amentaceae
