Class IV. Order II. 61 



G4. ISNARDIA. 



ISNARDIA PALUSTRIS. L. Isnctrdia. 



A w.-ed swimming in ditches and streams of water, or creep- 

 ing on wet grounds Leaves opposite, oval or ovate, smooth. 

 Flowers small, sessile in the axils of the leaves, without beauty. 

 June. Annual. 



DIGYJYM. 



65. HAMAMELIS. 

 HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA. L. Witch hazel. 



The variegated appearance of the American forest during the 

 months of autumn, has been repeatedly noticed by travellers. 

 Among the crimson and yellow hues of the falling leaves there 

 is no more remarkable object than the Witch hazel, in the mo- 

 ment of parting with its foliage, putting forth a profusion of 

 gaudy, yellow blossoms, and giving to November the counter- 

 feited appearance of spring. It is a bushy tree, sending up a 

 number of oblique trunks, about the size of a man : s arm or 

 larger. The leaves are oval or obovate, loosely waved or tooth- 

 ed upon the margin. Flowers sessile, about three together, pro- 

 ceeding from a gemmaceous involucre. Calyx double, pubes- 

 cent, the first of three roundish, short, bracteiform, leafets ; the 

 second larger, of four ovate, acute, recurved segments. Petals 

 four, very long, linear, transversely corrugated, in the bud rolled 

 inward. Nectaries four scales, wedge shaped, truncate, adnate 

 to the claws of the petals. Filaments erect, clavate, with ad- 

 nate anthers opening on each side by oval, concave, vertical 

 valves like doors. Germs two, ovate, hairy, with divergent 

 styles. Capsule roundish, its lower half invested by the persist- 

 ent calyx with four recurved points ; its upper half naked, with 

 a partial fissure and two short recurved points. Nuts two, 

 double shelled, the outer shells growing together, bursting elas- 

 tically at top ; inner shells free, oblong, glossy, and blackish ; 

 seed or kernel oblong, the corculum very distinct and nearly as 

 long as the seed, Not uncommon in damp woods. October, 

 November. 



The wood is white, its fibres fine and flexible. The twigs 

 were formerly used in the imposture of the diving, or mineral 

 rods, supposed to indicate the existence of precious ores. 



