ALTINGIACEA:. 333 



F. sytvatica, var. Americana Nwtt : leaves elliptic-ovate, acuminate, more 

 or less toothed, ciliate on the margin ; nut sharply 3-angled, acute or some- 

 what obtuse. F. sylvestris Mich. F. ferruginea Ait. ? Torr. N. Y. Fl. 



Woods. Can. to Geor. May. A beautiful tree, often attaining the height of 

 50 or 60 feet, and coated with a thick smooth grayish bark. Leaves 2 5 inches 

 long, often a little cordate at base, bright-green and shining above, silky beneath 

 when young. Nuts 1 2 in each involucre, mostly acute but sometimes rather 

 obtuse, mucronate with a sharp point, pale reddish-brown. There is probably 

 only one species of beech in the Northern States, but whether this is distinct 

 from the foreign F. sylvatica, or a mere variety, is still somewhat doubtful. The 

 difference in the color of the wood, (red and white,) is caused by the more or less 

 rapid growth of the tree. Beech. 



ORDER CXIX. PLATANACE^E. PLANES. 



Flowers monoecious, in globose pedunculate aments, destitute 

 of floral envelopes. STERILE FL. Stamens numerous, mixed 

 with small scales and appendages. FERTILE FL. Ovaries nu- 

 merous, mixed with scales ; styles subulate ; stigma small. 

 Fruit a small coriaceous 1 -seeded nut. Seeds albuminous. 

 Large trees, with alternate palmate or toothed leaves. 



PLATANUS. Linn. Plane Tree. 



(From the Greek TrAaruf , broad ; in allusion to its wide spreading branches and 

 foliage.) 



Character same as that of the order. 



JP. occidentalis Linn. : leaves angularly lobed or obscurely palmate, sinu- 

 ate-toothed, pubescent beneath ; branches whitish ; fertile heads solitary. 



Banks of streams. Can. to Flor. W. to Miss. May. One of the largest 

 trees in the United States, attaining in favorable situations the height of 80 feet 

 or more. Leaves alternate, on long petioles. Aments axillary, globose ; the 

 fertile ones at length forming a compact ball of about an inch in diameter, which 

 hangs on a slender peduncle 2 or 3 inches in length. 



Button Wood. Sycamore. 



ORDER CXX. ALTINGIACEJE. SWEET GUMS. 



Flowers monoecious, destitute of floral envelopes, in aments 

 which are furnished with a deciduous 4 -leaved involucre. STE- 

 RILE FL. in conical aments. Anthers numerous, nearly sessile, 

 with a few minute scales. FERTILE FL. in globose aments. 

 Ovaries numerous, each surrounded by a few scales ; styles 2, 

 long. Fruit a cone composed of hard connected scales, in the 

 cavities of which lie obconic, 2-lobed, 2-celled capsules. Seeds 

 mostly abortive ; albumen fleshy. Trees, with alternate simple 

 or lobed leaves and deciduous stipules. 



