306 PLATAN ACEAE 
H. virginiana, L. (Fig. 10, pl. 61.) Witcn Hazer. Shrub or small 
tree. Leaves on short leaf-stalks, broadly oval, somewhat heart-shaped 
and unequal at base, covered, at least when young, with soft hairs; bor- 
ders with rounded teeth. Flowers in clusters of several, making tufts 
of yellow, the long narrow petals appearing like threads of yellow in 
the tuft. They appear, as the leaves fall or earlier, at the axis of the 
coming leaves. An interesting shrub in damp woods. Blooms Aug.-Dec. 
2. LIQUIDAMBAR, L. 
In our region, a tree with broad 5-fingered or 5-lobed leaves. Stamens 
and pistils in different flowers which are in different groups on the same 
tree. Stamens in staminate flowers numerous, calyx and corolla absent. 
Pistillate flowers have a small calyx the sepals of which are confluent. 
Petals none. 
L. Styraciflua, L. (Fig. 9, pl. 61.) Swrer Gum. ALLIcATOR TREE. 
A forest tree 60 ft. or more high. Trunk covered by deeply furrowed 
bark, Leaves broader than long, divided into 5 deep, sharp pointed, 
lobes. Fruit in a compact pendulous ball consisting of numerous cap- 
sules each with 1 or 2 seeds. Connecticut, southern New York and 
southward. 
Famity VI.—PLATANACEAE. PLANE TREE FAMILY 
Large tree with broad, lobed leaves and sheathing stipules, 
bark falling in large scales. Stamens and pistils in different 
groups of flowers on same tree; clusters of fertile flowers forming 
at length a globose mass of capsules with many bristly projecting 
points. Sterile flowers also in spherical masses which hang from a 
thin pendulous stem, the globular masses forming at intervals. 
The individual flowers have an insignificant calyx and corolla and 
few stamens. Fruit a nutlet. 
PLATANUS, L. 
Characters of the family. 
P. occidentalis, L. (Fig. 8, pl. 61.) Burron Woop. SycAMorRE. 
Our largest tree, 80 to 130 ft. high. Bark falling in thin plates, exposing 
the grayish-white new bark beneath. Leaves orbicular, angularly lobed, 
points of lobes sharp. Heads of flowers hanging on long peduncles. Wet 
woods and along streams. May. 
Famity VII.— ROSACEAE. Rost FAMILY 
A large family consisting of herbs, shrubs and trees. In all our 
species the leaves, which are simple or compound, are alternate 
and the flowers are all regular and contain both stamens and 
pistils. In most species the leaves are subtended by stipules, 
often quite conspicuous. Calyx of 5 sepals either free or attached 
to the ovary. Petals 5, or, in a few cases, none. Stamens usually 
