FL WERING SHR UBS. 



109 



nearest to the summit ; the leaf-stalks are clothed with clammy reddish- 

 coloured hairs, which contain an odorous gum ; the flowers are tubular, 

 divided into five segments at the margin, in colour varying from white 

 to rosy-pink ; the inside of the long tube is beset with silvery hairs. 

 The lovely, waxy flowers are clustered at the summits of the creeping 

 stems, and give out a delightful aromatic scent. The classical name of 

 our pretty ever-green is derived from the Greek, and signifies — upon the 

 earth — in allusion to its prostrate trailing habit. 



Beaked Hazel-nut. — Cory Ins jostrata, (Ait.) 



The Beaked Hazel-nut is a small bush, not more than three to four 

 feet high ; the leaves are large, oval, and coarse in texture, furrowed and 

 dentate at the edge. The catkins appear in April ; the light crimson 

 tufted pistillate flowers in May. The nut is enveloped in a rough green 

 involucral calyx, which is undivided and closely invests it, this rapidly dim- 

 inishes in size above the nut, and is prolonged for about an inch; in shape 

 it takes the form of a hawk's bill, whence the specific name rostrata, or 

 beaked, is derived. 



The calyx is closely beset with short, bristly hairs which pierce 

 the fingers, producing an unpleasant irritation ; especially is this felt 

 when the fruit is ripe, and the enveloping case is withered and dry. 

 The nut is sweet and well-flavoured, and resembles the common Filbert 

 more than the Wild Hazel-nut of England. The bush seems to affect 

 dry open ground and copse woods. There is another native species, the 



American Hazel-nut. — Coryhis Americana, (Walt.) 



This is a much taller bush, found chiefly in damp thickets ; the long, 

 slender wand-like nut-brown branches springing from a thickened root- 

 stock or stool, and reaching to a height of ten to fifteen feet in damp 

 localities. The sweet nut is round and thick shelled, the involucral calyx 

 spreading at the tips and more open than in the former species. The 

 foliage is round, somewhat cordate, or heart-shaped, coarsely pointed and 

 serrated. The flowers, which are of two kinds in this genus, come 

 successively before the unfolding of the leaves. The two species are 

 very distinct in their appearance and character. The Beaked Hazel-nut 

 bearing more likeness to the Filbert, while the present species resembles 

 the common Hazel-nut. 



The classical name Corylus is derived from a Greek word, signifying 

 a helmet, from the shape of the calyx. 



