THE DICOTYLEDONES 



1647 



Among the most important of these are Corylopsis (Fig. 1506), Fothergilla, 

 and the Witch Hazels, which are species of the genus Hamamelis (Fig. 



1507)- 



Species of Liquidamhar produce important resins as well as bemg 



valuable timber trees. L. orientalis which grows in Asia Minor produces 



Storax which is a fragrant balsam, while L. styracifliia of North America 



provides the satin walnut wood of commerce. Altingia exceha of Java and 



south-western China is also a fine timber tree. 



Fig. 1506. — Corylopsis pauci- 

 floro. Racemes of pale 

 yellow flowers. 



Fig. 1507. — Hamamelis mollis. Flowers 

 tetramerous with long golden petals. 



/ 



The family Platanaceae is small, containing the single genus Platamis, 

 which includes about half a dozen species. P. orientalis is the common 

 Plane Tree, which is much planted in the cities, where it thrives excep- 

 tionally well, possibly on account of its bark, which scales off every year 

 leaving a smooth surface. The axillary buds develop enclosed in the bases 

 of the petioles, which thus protect them during early development. The 

 wood is of some value, but that of the North American Sycamore, P. occi- 

 dentalis, is superior and is of considerable economic importance. In the 

 Platanaceae the flowers are monoecious, hanging in pendulous heads, which 

 are anemophilous (Fig. 1508). The ovules are orthotropous and the one to 

 eight carpels each produce an achene which is surrounded by a tuft of long 

 hairs. The species so frequently planted in London streets is P. acerifolia, 

 the London Plane, which is a hybrid of the two species mentioned above, 

 u 



