358 Class XXI. Order VIII. 



416. OSTRYA. 

 OSTRYA VIRGINICA. Hop Hornbeam. Iron Wood. 



Cones oblong-ovate ; leaves oblong-ovate, acumi- 

 nate ; buds acute. 



This tree is generally of small size, and remarkable for the 

 fine division of the outer bark of its trunk. The leaves are al- 

 ternate, ovate, a little hearted at base, finely and acutely serrate, 

 acuminate. Barren 'flowers in pendulous aments ; scale of the 

 calyx entire, acuminated, strongly ciliated ; anthers many, beard- 

 ed at tip. Fertile ones enlarging into a sort of oblong cone, in 

 appearance resembling the common hop. The fruit is extended, 

 not pendulous, and composed of oval, compressed, mucronated 

 vesicles or inflated capsules, bristly at base, lying over each 

 other and containing a compressed, ovate seed at bottom. 



The wood is hard, close grained, and heavy. In some parts 

 of the country it has acquired the name of Lever wood) from the 

 use to which it is applied. 



417. PLAT ANUS. 



PLATANUS OCCIDENTALIS. L. Plane Tree. Button Wood, 



Sycamore. 



Leaves lobed-angular ; branches whitish. Mich. 



This tree, commonly known by the name of Button wood, at- 

 tains to an extraordinary size. Trees are said to be found in 

 the western states, whose trunks measure from forty to fifty feet 

 in circumference. With us it is one of the largest native trees. 

 The leaves are broad and lobed, with many acute segments. 

 When young they are downy at the veins underneath. On break- 

 ing off the petiole, the next year's bud is found concealed with- 

 in its base. The flowers grow in balls or globular aments, and 

 are succeeded by long seeds, furnished with a fine reddish down 

 nt base. The receptacle of the seeds, constituting the nucleus 

 of the ball, is hard and woody, and closely enveloped by a regu- 

 lar net work, which may be easily detached. The balls are 

 retained all winter on the trees by their tough, fibrous stalks. 

 Each year the outer bark of the branches scales off to a deter- 

 minate extent, leaving a white surface beneath it. This circum- 

 stance distinguishes the tree at sight from all others around it- 



