| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Rosids I
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Family Common Name: Beech or Oak Family
Genera: Fagus, Quercus |
Defining Features: The cupule
of the developed nut or acorn is of debated anatomical origin by some botanists.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are actinomorphic, unisexual and plants often monoecious.
Flowers are small and borne on inflorescences of determinate catkins, small
heads or spikes for male flowers. The female flowers commonly at the base
of the male inflorescence. The female flowers are surrounded by a basal
involucre, or bract, which becomes the cupule of the fruit at maturity.
Ovaries are inferior with axile placentation. Fruit and Seed Features:
Dicotyledon. Fruit a nut or acorn. The cupules enclose one to three fruits.
Seed does not have endosperm. 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.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan,
excepting parts of tropical South America and Africa.
Economic Use: As a source
of nuts, timber and cork and as ornamental shade trees.
Number of Genera Globally:
9
Number of Species Globally:
900
