The Ironwoods 75 



where it grows in moist bottoms and marshy flats along with the willow, but is not 

 ordinarily distinguished from other alders. 



It is usually a shrub, but sometimes becomes a tree 30 ft. in height and 8 in. 

 in trunk diameter. Its wood is used with that of red alder (Alnus oregona). 



The bark is smooth and grey with a bluish tinge. The twigs are yellowish- 

 brown, shiny, and minutely hairy. 



The leaves are thin, papery, yellowish-green, shiny beneath, and, when young, 

 sticky. In shape they are much like those of the red alder, except that they are 

 often a little more drawn out and pointed. The margin, too, is more sharply 

 toothed. 



The cone is ^ to % in. long. The tiny seed has a wing that is much more 

 conspicuous than that of either the red or the mountain alder. 



ALNUS TENUIFOLIA, Nutt. MOUNTAIN ALDER 



The mountain alder ranges from Yukon territory southward throughout 

 British Columbia. It received its common name because of its high mountain 

 habitat by which it is ordinarih'- distinguished. 



Commonly it is only a shrub growing in dense thickets, but sometimes becomes 

 a crooked tree 20 to 25 ft. in height. 



The bark is smooth, thin, and greyish-brown on the trunk. On new twigs it is 

 pale brown, shading from purple-red to grey. The twigs of the Sitka alder on the 

 other hand are a shiny yellowish-brown, marked with light-coloured specks. 



The leaves of the mountain alder closely resemble those of the Sitka alder but 

 on the whole are a little more coarsely toothed. 



THE IRONWOODS 



Three of the five known species of ironwood (Ostrya) are found in North Am- 

 erica, of which only one occurs in Canada. The others are found in southern 

 Europe, southwestern Asia and in Japan. They are small trees of minor importance 

 but are sometimes planted for decorative purposes. 



OSTRYA VIRGINIANA (Mill.) Koch IRONWOOD 



Common names: Ironwood, rough -barked ironwood, hornbeam*, 



hop hornbeam*. 

 French names: Ostryer de virginie, bois dur*, bois de fer. 

 The ironwood is a small tree found from Nova Scotia to Ontario, and is as- 

 sociated with such hardwoods as beech, sugar maple, white ash, and white elm. 

 It reaches the height of 25 to 35 ft. and a diameter of 12 in. 

 Its bark is light grey and roughened by thin, fiat flakes or scales, which loosen 

 at the ends. This characteristic distinguishes it readily from the beech. The 

 twigs of these two species are somewhat alike in winter but can be distinguished 

 by the shorter buds on the ironwood. 



The leaves of the ironwood are somewhat like those of the birch in general 

 appearance. They are finely-toothed, light green, rough to the touch, and have 

 stems about J/^ in. long. 



