410 EDIBLE WILD PLANTS 



NUTS AND SEEDS. 



58. Fagus ferruginea Alton. American Beech. 



Described in No. 50. Nuts 3-sided, abrupt at base, pointed 

 at top, ^ in. to h in. long, in pairs, each pair forms a 4-sided 

 pyramid, and are enclosed in a coarse bristly 4-parted husk, 

 open at top, and growing on extremit}^ of branch. Nut shell 

 brown, easily opened, kernel rich, sweet, and easily digested. 

 A favorite food of squirrels. Very abundant in October. Does 

 not produce regularly. 



Generally distributed, but most abundant in the eastern 

 counties. 



59. Corylus rostyxtta Alton. Beaked Hazel-nut, Filbert. 



Tree-like, 3 ft. to 6 ft. high, branching near top, root often 

 bent at right angles to stem. Bark, light-brown with light-grey 

 spots, spotted appearance quite noticeable. Leaves oblong or 

 somewhat heart-shaped, Ih in. to 2| in., pointed, soft and slightly 

 downy, doubly notched. Nut round or slightly oval, with 

 beaked top and thick shell, h in. to f in. long, sweet and easily 

 digested. Enclosed in a long bristly busk with ragged end, in 

 the base of which lies the nut. Husks hang singly or in twos 

 with rudimentary husks attached, and when green is juicy and 

 extremely sour. 



In dry or moderately dry open woods or barrens. Gener- 

 ally distributed and abundant. 



60. Qiiercus rubra L. Red Oak. 



Tree 50 ft. to 90 ft. high, and 1 ft. to 3 in. in diameter, with 

 heavy spreading limbs. Wood heavy, strong, porous when dry, 

 white in outer part with red heart. Bark grey and strongly 

 corrugated, but not so regularly as the ash. Leaves 4 in. to 6 in. 

 long, with 5-pointed lobes. Nuts round with small spur on end, 

 flat base resting a scaly truncated cup. Size h in. to | in., with 

 kvi^<j white kerne , ver}^ bitter, which almost precludes its use 



