DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS de 
. very thin, round-cordate, acute or slightly taper-pointed, irregularly 
toothed, nearly smooth above, downy below. Involucre longer than 
the nut and partially enclosing it, glandular-hairy. Nut subglobose, 
pointed, edible. On rich soil, borders of meadows and fields, and 
in oak-openings. — 
2. C. rostrata, Ait. Brakep Hazeinur. A shrub 4-8 ft. high. 
Young twigs near ends smooth. Leaves thin, little, if at all, heart- 
shaped, doubly serrate or incised, taper-pointed, stipules linear- 
lanceolate. Involucre completely covering the nut and prolonged 
into a beak beyond it. Common N. [The latter species is not 
nearly as widely distributed as the former ; they cannot be readily 
distinguished from each other until the fruit is somewhat mature. 
The principal points of difference discernible before the fruit is 
nearly mature are the hairy twigs of No. 1 and the smooth ones of 
No. 2, and the fact that No. 1 has buds rounded at the apex and 
more slender and longer staminate catkins, while No. 2 has buds 
acute at the apex and thicker and shorter staminate catkins. ] 
IV. BETULA, Tourn. 
Trees with slender, aromatic twigs and thin, usually straight- 
veined leaves. Staminate catkins drooping, flowers usually 3 
in the axil of each bract, stamens 4, short, anthers 1-celled. 
Pistillate catkins erect, flowers 2 or 3 in the axil of each bract ; 
ovary sessile, 2-celled, styles 2 ; bracts 3-lobed ; perianth none. 
Nut broadly winged.* 
1. B. nigra, L. Brack Biren, River Brren. A medium-sized 
tree with reddish-brown bark. Leaves rhombic-ovate, acute at the 
apex, acute or obtuse at the base, sharply and doubly serrate, white- 
downy below, becoming smoother with age, petioles short. Stami- 
nate catkins 2-3 in. long. Pistillate catkins 1-14 in. long, peduncles 
short, bracts nearly equally 3-cleft, woolly. River banks, especially 
S. and W.* 
2. B. lenta, L. CHurerry Bircw. Leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, 
acute, heart-shaped, finely and doubly serrate, silky when young ; 
petioles about $ in. long. Staminate catkins clustered, 3-4 in. long. 
Pistillate catkins sessile, about 1 in. long, cylindrical bracts spread- 
ing, acute, smooth. River banks, especially N. A large tree with 
aromatic twigs. The oil contained in the bark and twigs is distilled 
and used as a substitute for wintergreen.* 
3. B. populifolia, Ait. Gray Biren. A tall shrub or slender, 
straggling tree, 15-30 ft. high, seldom growing erect, often several 
trunks springing from the ground almost in contact and slanting 
away from each other. Leaves triangular, with a long taper point 
