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Home Nature-Study Course. 



the terminal buds of the Big Shag-bark, when opening in the spring, are 

 most flower-like, and as beautiful as tulips. 



(3). Number of the bud scales, varying from six or eight to 

 " numerous." 



(4). Degree of downiness, the j\Iocker-nut having received its earlier 

 name of Carya foment osa from the persistent soft fuzziness of buds, foli- 

 age and even twigs. 



Facts for the Teacher. 

 — The winter buds of 

 the Shag-bark are 

 large, Hght brown, egg- 

 shaped and downy, 

 swelHng greatly before 

 expanding, with eight 

 to ten bud-scales, the 

 inner ones pale red, in- 

 creasing to two or 

 three inches in length 

 before the leaves un- 

 fold and they fall 

 away. The j'oung 

 branches are smooth 

 and soft gray with con- 

 spicuous leaf-scars. 



The Big Shag-bark 

 has even larger buds 

 with fring^', reddish- 

 purple inner scales, 

 which grow large and 

 tulip-like before they 

 fall awaj' at the un- 

 folding of the leaves. 

 The j-oung twigs are 

 yellowish-brown in- 

 stead of gray. 



On the Mocker-nut 

 the last season's shoots 

 appear dusty brown 

 from the remains of 



down which they have worn, and they are aromatic when bitten or bruised ; so also, 



are the buds which are yellow-brown, egg-shaped and very downy. 



The Bitter-nut is easiest of all to identify by the winter buds, for they are deep 



yellow, long, pointed, slightly flattened, often curved or scythe-shaped; the young 



shoots are brownish yellow, specked with lighter yellow dots. 

 The Pig-nut's yearling shoots are purplish-gray with numerous pale dots ; its 



terminal buds are rounded and blunt, lateral ones smaller and more pointed, 



bud-scales numerous, the inner ones redddish pink in color; the scales continue to 



lengthen and do not fall away till the leaves unfold. 



Photo by R. Curtis. 



The Shag-bark in Winter. 



