Class XXI. Order VIII. 353 



are expanded to their full size. The barren flowers hang in 

 large aments from the sides of the last year's shoots, near their 

 extremities. The scales which compose them are oblong; and 

 deeply cleft on each side into about three teeth or segments. 

 The anthers are about eight or ten in number, oblong and near- 

 ly sessile. The fertile flowers grow in a short spike at the end 

 of the new shoot. They are sessile, pubescent, and viscid. 

 When fully grown, they seem to consist of a large oblong germ 

 and a forked feathery style. The top of the germ presents an 

 obscurely four toothed calyx. Within this is a corolla of four 

 narrow lanceolate petals, growing to the sides of the style. The 

 style divides into two large, diverging, feathery stigmas nearly 

 as long as the germ. These flowers are somewhat later than 

 the aments in their appearance. The fruit is sessile, several 

 together on the sides and extremity of a long peduncle. It is of 

 a green colour, brown when ripe, oblong-oval, pointed, hairy 

 and extremely viscid. It contains a nut which is of a dark co- 

 lour, carinated on both sides, sharp pointed, its whole surface 

 roughened by deep indentures and sharp prominences. The 

 kernel is more regular than in most nuts of its kind, is very oily, 

 pleasant to the taste when fresh, but acquires a rancid taste by 



age. 



The wood is lighter and weaker than that of the Hickories, 

 but is said to be durable. The sap affords sugar, and an extract 

 made from the bark is in great estimation as a laxative medicine. 



Subgenus CARYA. Aments in threes, with three parted 

 scales, nnd no corolla. Pericarp four valved. Hickory. 



JUGLANS ALBA. fVilld. White IVulnut. Common Hickory. 



Leafets seven, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, 

 pubescent and rough underneath, the odd one sessile ; 

 fruit somewhat four angled, smooth. Willd. 



Syn. JUGLANS TOMENTOSA. Mich, et f. 



The trunk of this walnut, in young trees, is covered with a 



smooth bark ; in old trees the bark becomes cracked, rugged, 



and thick, but never scaly. The buds in winter are large, hard, 



. and of a greyish white. The leaves are pinnate, with seven or 



nine large leafets, which are serrate and acuminate, nearly se<5- 



45 



