418 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



April, but usually in October or November, and stand, three or 

 four together, nodding on the end of a brown, downy footstalk, 

 one quarter or one third of an inch long, in the axil of the 

 falling or fallen leaf, from an involucre of three to five, round, 

 concave, russet, downy scales. Each flower is supported by a 

 single, dark brown, ovate scale, like the scale of a bud. Within 

 this are two or three similar scales or bracts, surrounding the 

 calyx. The calyx is divided into four segments, russet and 

 downy without, and yellow within, ovate, rounded and ciliate. 

 There are four, long, linear, crumpled, yellow petals, at whose 

 base, within, are short, incurved, yellow scales. Alternate 

 with these are the four fertile stamens, curved inwards, and 

 with their anthers projecting on each side like wings, and open- 

 ing by lids. From the centre diverge two short, slender styles, 

 surmounting the downy, ovate ovary. The fruit is a double 

 nut, invested, below the middle, by the persistent, swollen, 

 four-parted calyx. The capsular covering bursts elastically in 

 two, disclosing the two nuts covered with shining, blackish, 

 crustaceous shells. 



The wood is white, flexible, and of a fine, close texture. 

 The bark has the reputation of having efficacy in allaying 

 pain, and is said to have been applied by the native Indians for 

 that purpose, to tumors and inflamed surfaces. They also 

 applied a poultice of the inner bark to remove inflammation of 

 the eyes. 



It is found in moist woods, from Canada to Louisiana. 



As it produces flowers late in autumn and even in winter, it 

 is deserving of cultivation. It may be propagated by layers or 

 by seed, and it will grow readily in any tolerable soil, in a 

 somewhat moist situation. 



