CLASS MONffiCIA. 105 



extends still further north, and has an oblong, acumin- 

 ated nut deeply and irregularly sculptured. The bark 

 of this species is also sometimes employed as a cathar- 

 tic medicine. The kernels of both species are eata- 

 ble, and not unpleasant. 



From the genus Juglans I ventured to separate the 

 Hickory, or "White Walnut, by the name of Carya, 

 and the)' both appertain to the natural family of the 

 CorylacejE. — The generic character is, to have the 

 sterile flowers in an imbricated (trifid) ament, with 

 the scales 3-parted ; no calyx or corolla ; the stamina 

 4 to 6. The fertile flowers have a 4-cleft, superior 

 calyx ; no corolla ; no styles ; but a partly discoid, 

 4-lobed stigma ; the pericarp 4-valved ; the nut 

 partly quadrangular, and even on the surface. Of this 

 well known genus there are about S species, with the 

 general habits of the Walnut, but the wood tough and 

 white, and the nuts of several of the species are bitter 

 and inedible. 



The genus Platanus (Plane or Button-wood) has its 

 flowers in globose aments. The sterile ones without 

 calyx ; and with a very minute corolla. The anthers 

 are adnate to the filaments from the base. In the fer- 

 tile flowers the calyx is many-parted ; there is no corolla; 

 are curved stigma ; the capsule somewhat club-shaped, 

 1-seeded, and mucronate, or pointed with the persis- 

 tent style, having its base surrounded with a hairy 

 pappus. The P. occidentalis is one of the largest and 

 most majestic of the American forest-trees, growing 

 generally by the banks of rivers, distinguishable at a 

 distance by its white and blotched bark, pendent, glob- 

 ular aments, and angularly lobed leaves. The Asiatic 

 Plane (P. oricntalis) not very dissimilar from the pre- 

 ceding, having palmated leaves, was cultivated in 

 Greece for its agreeable shade, often near temples 

 and resorts of learning ; and was] early introduced 



