CUPULIFER^. 327 



base. Fruit a bony or coriaceous 1 -celled nut. Albumen none. 

 — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, often feather- 

 veined, with stipules. 



1. CARPINUS. Linn.- Hornbeam. 



(From the Celtic car, wood, and pin, the head ; being; used in making yokes 

 for cattle.) ' 



Monoecious. Sterile Fl." Ament long-cylindric ; scales 

 ovate, acute, ciliate at base. Stamens 8 — 14, somewhat bearded 

 at the top. Fertile Fl. Ament oblong, loosely imbricated ; 

 scales in pairs, enlarging and becoming leafy ; each pair 2-flow- 

 ered. Styles 2. Nut bony, ovoid, acute, sulcate. 



C. Americana Mich. : leaves oblong-ovate, acuminate, unequally ser- 

 rate ; scales of the fertile ament 3-parted ; the middle segment much the 

 largest, oblique, ovate-lanceolate, unequally toothed on one side. C. Vir- 

 giniana Mich. f. 



Woods. Can. to Flor. May.— A tree 10—20 feet high, much branched. 

 Leaves alternate, on short petioles, often cordate at base. Fertile aments 2—3 

 inches long, loosely imbricated, witl^large foliaceons scales. 



Hornbeam. Water-Beech 



2. OSTRYA. M/c/i.— Hop Hornbeam. 



(From tlie Greek ourptov, a shell; in allusion to the fruit.) 



Monoecious. Sterile Fl. Ament cylindric ; scales orbicular- 

 ovate, acuminate, ciliate. Stamens 8 — 10 or more; filaments 

 branched. Fertile Fl. Ament loosely imbricated, bracteate, 

 with the flowers in pairs ; scales none, but a membranous sac or 

 involucre enclosing each flower. Stigmas 2, filiform. Nut ob- 

 long, included in the bladdery involucre. 



O. Virginica Willd.: leaves ovate-oblong, somewhat ^ordate at base, 

 acuminate, unequally serrate; strobile oblong-ovoid, erect; buds acute. 

 Carpinus Oslrya Mich. 



Woods. Can. to Car. W. to the Rocky Mountains. May. — A tree 20 — 40 

 feet high, with brownish bark. Leaves alternate, on hairy petioles. Fertile 

 aments at length enlarged into a sort of oblong somewhat pendulous cone re- 

 sembling the common hop. The wood is exceedingly hard and heavy. In some 

 parts of the country it is called lever wood, from the use to which, it is sometimes 

 applied. Iron Wood. Hop Hornbeam. 



3. QUERCUS. Linn.— Oak. 

 (From the Celtic quer, beautiful, and cuez, a tree. Hook.) 



Monoecious. Sterile Fl. Ament long, slender and pendu- 

 lous. Perianth 6 — 8-parted, the segments unequal. Stamens 

 6 — 10. Fertile Fl. Several together on erect axillary pedun- 



