SUPPLEMENT. 



THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 



l^y C iiakt.es Lor is Pollauh 



ORDER GINKC.OALES. (Fig. 4.) 



THIS .strange group is limited to a single fainil}-, Ginkgoacese, 

 the latter moreover consisting of a single genus, Ginkgo, with 

 one species, (/. h'llohn^ the ginkgo or maidenhair tree of China 

 and Japan. Though formerly of rare occurrence in cultivation here, 



the tree is now frequently used to shade 

 parkways and avenues, though it is not 

 hardy in a severe climate. It is of 

 conical outline, very symmetrical, with 

 thick, slender-petioled irregularly fan- 

 shaped leaves, often more or less lobed 

 or incised at the broad outer margin, 

 and wedge-shaped at the base. The 

 plants are dioecious, separate individ- 

 uals bearino; the male and female in- 

 florescences; a spray of leaves with the 

 staminate flowers is shown in Fig. 4. 

 The fruit is bright yellow in color, 

 similar in appearance to a cherry, and 

 fleshy in texture, with a hard central 

 seed of stone: it is also distinguished for 

 its nauseating odor. One of the finest 

 plantation of these trees in this coun- 

 try is to be observed along the avenue 

 leading up to the Department of Agri- 



flo^wers/^ald^^SuvTevXeV leTf* of'\he culture building, in AVashiugton. Dur- 

 maidenhair tree (Ginkgo Mohrn. .^^ ^^^ suiumer, whcu they are clothed 



with their full wealth of foliage, these ginkgos possess a unique beauty 

 which is unrivalled by anv other ornamental shrub or tree. 



