274 APETALOUS EXOQENS 



gins), and these involucres, becoming enlarged and imbricated, 

 finally form a sort of strobile, or cone, resembling that of the com- 

 mon Hop. Calyx somewhat urceolate, the border tubular, nearly 

 entire, ciliate. Ovary 2-celled; stigmas 2, filiform, elongated. 

 Nuts solitary, compressed, lance-oblong, smooth. Slender trees, 

 with brownish slightly-furrowed bark : flowers appearing with the 

 leaves. 



1. O. Vir^inica, Willd. Leaves oblong-ovate and obovate, 

 acuminate, doubly serrate; involucres thickly beset with tawny 

 bristles at base. 

 VIRGINIAN OSTRYA. Hop-Hornbeam. Iron-wood. 



Stem 20 to 40 feet high ; branches slender, pilose while young. Leaves 2 to 4 

 laches long, subcordate and often unequal at base ; petioles about % of an inch in 

 length. Pistillate aments 1 to near 2 inches long, mostly solitary, finally oyoid- 

 oblong, pedunculate and rather pendulous. 

 Hob. Woodlands ; along Brandywine : not common. Fl. April. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The wood of this tree is remarkably hard and firm, and 

 hence one of its common names. 



ORDER -XC HI. MYRICACEAE. 



tfirubs; kaves alternate, simple, resinous-dotted and aromatic, mostly stipulate ; 

 Jiowers monoicous, or dioicous, all amentaceous, the pistillate aments globose, or 

 ovoid; ovary 1-celled, with a single erect ovule, surrounded by hypogynous persis- 

 tent scales ; fruit a dry nut, or sometimes drupaceous, and covered with a waxy 

 secretion ; embryo without albumen. 



378. COMPTOOTA, Solander. 



[In honor of Henry C'ompton, Bishop of London, a collector of Plants.] 

 Monoicous: STAM. FL. Aments cylindric, with imbricated reniform- 

 cordate acuminate 1-flowered bracts, each bract with 2 bractlets. 

 Stamens 3 to 6 ; anthers 2-celled. PISTILLATE FL. Aments globose ; 

 bracts 1-flowered, each with 2 bractlets. Ovary surrounded by a 

 sort of involucre consisting of 5 or 6 subulate persistent scales. 

 which give a bur-like appearance to the globular cluster; stigmas 2, 

 elongated. Fruit an ovoid-oblong indehiscent smooth nut. Slender, 

 humble bushes, with narrow fern-like foliage. 



1, C. asplenifolia, Ait. Leaves linear-lanceolate, crenatelj 

 pinnatifid, subsessile ; stipules semi-cordate, acuminate. 

 ASPLENIUM-LEAVED CoMPTONiA. Sweet Fern. 



Stem 18 inches to 3 feet high, much branched, the young branches pubescent. 

 Leaves 1 to 4 inches long, rather acute at each end. Staminate aments % to 1% 

 inches long. Pistillate aments % an * ncn * % * n diameter, resembling small 

 globular burs. 

 Hob. Dry, slaty woodlands, and hill-sides : frequent. Fl. April. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The bruised leaves have a resinous aromatic odor, and 

 are reputed medicinal, in dysentery, and some other complaints. 



ORDER XCIV. BETULACEAE. 



Trees or shrubs; leaves alternate, simple, with deciduous stipules ; flowers monot- 

 cous, all amentaceous; bracts 3-lobed, 2- or3-flowered; stamens definite; ovary 2- 



