Class IV. Order II. 



seeds. Ehiring summer the large bunches of dark green 

 leaves are conspicuous in every meadow, swamp, and brook 

 side. Perennial. 



48. ISNARDIA. 

 ISNARDIA TALUSTRIS. L. Isnardiu. 



A weed swimming in ditches and streams of water, or creep- 

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

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

 June. Annual. 



DIGYNU. 



49. HAMAMELIS. 

 HAMAMELIS VIRGINICA. L. Witch hazel, 



The variegated appearance of the American forest during 

 the months of autumn, has been repeatedly noticed by travel- 

 lers. Among the crimson and yellow hues of the falling leaves 

 there is no more remarkable object than the Witch hazel, in 

 the moment of parting with its foliage, putting forth a profusion 

 of gaudy, yellow blossoms, and giving to November the coun- 

 terfeited 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^ toothed upon 

 the margin. Flowers in axillary bunches. Petals three or 

 four times as long as the calyx, yellow or straw coloured, rib- 

 bon shaped, spreading and reflexed. Fruit a small nut, of two 

 cells, terminating in two horn-like projections. Wet 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. 



