200 



OliDEB CXIX. AKACE.E AHUM-TRIBE. 



2. ABIES. 



Barren aments scattered, or clustered near the ends of the 

 branchlets. Strobile small, round-oblong, with thin, flat scales, 

 not thickened at apex or terminating in a point. Seeds winged. 

 Cotyledons 3 9. 



1. A. Canadensis. 



Hemlock. 



Leaves flat, linear, obtuse, glaucous beneath, mostly In 2 rows ; cones ovoid, 

 terminating the branches, a little longer than the leaves ; scales few, rounded, 

 entire. A tall, evergreen tree, of elegant growth, in rocky, hilly woods. Com- 

 mon, especially toward the North. The trunk is large and covered with a rough, 

 dark-brown bark. The branchlets are slender, and brittle ; the timber is light 

 and soft, but less valuable than that of the pines. May. 



2. A. nigra. 



Slack Spruce. 



Leaves 4-angled, rigid, short, dark-green ; cones pendulous, ovoid ; scales un- 

 dulate, and toothed at the apex. A tall tree, common in the northern districts 

 of N. Eng. and N. York. In growth it assumes a pyramidal form, and is dis- 

 tinguished by its branches and very dark leaves, which thickly cover them. 

 May. 



3. A. alba. Wliite Spruce. 



Leaves 4-angled, slender, spreading, irregularly scattered, of a light, glaucous 

 green ; cones oblong, loose, pendulous ; scales broad-obovate, entire. A tall, 

 slender, and elegant species, common in swamps and moist woods, especially in 

 northern N. Eng. and N. York. The trunk is covered with a light-colored bark, 

 and the slender branchlets are often pendulous. May. 



4. A. balsamea. 



Balsam Fir. 



Leaves narrow-linear, flat, obtuse, bright-green above, silvery-white beneath ; 

 cones erect, large, cylindrical, violet-colored ; bracts obovate, appressed. A slen- 

 der and beautiful fir, common in the cold woods and swamps of northern N. 

 Eng. and N. York. It is of regular pyramidal growth, and is distinguished 

 from the preceding species by the silvery under-surface of the leaves. The 

 trunk is covered with a smooth baric, abounding in receptacles of a peculiar re- 

 sin or balsam, which is extracted and used for a medicine. May. 



8. THtTJA. 



Flowers monoecious, the two kinds on separate branches. 

 Barren flowers in small, ovoid aments ; stamens attached by a 

 scale-like filament, with 4 anther-cells. Fertile flowers consisting 

 of a few loose scales, each bearing 2 erect ovules at the base in- 

 side. Seed winged. Cotyledons 2. 



1. T. occidentalis. Arbor-vitce. 



Leaves rhomboid-ovate, appressed, imbricate in 4 rows on the 2-edged, flat 

 branchlets ; cones nodding, oblong ; scales without joints, 1-seeded ; seeds with 

 broad wings. An evergreen tree of straggling, irregular growth, common in 

 swamps in northern N. Eng. and N. York. The trunk is crooked, and dimin- 

 ishes in size very rapidly. The foliage is peculiarly aromatic and fragrant, a 

 quality, however, which is mostly lost when cultivated, as it often is for hedges. 

 May. 



4. CUPRESSUS. 



Flowers monoecious, the two kinds on separate branches. Bar- 

 ren flowers in ovoid aments ; scales peltate, bearing 2 6 anther- 

 cells. Fertile flowers in globular aments; scales peltate, in 4 

 rows, bearing several erect ovules at base. Cone globular, not 

 opening till mature. Seeds compressed, winged. Cotyledons 2 3. 



1. C. thyoides. 



White Cedar. 



Leaves ovate, with a gland on the back, imbricated in 4 rows on the com- 

 pressed branchlets, minute, dull-green. A moderately large tree in swamps, 

 from N. Eng. southward. It is quite regular in its growth, and is distinguished 

 from Thuja, which is often confounded with it, by the dull-green, minute leaves, 

 and the small, compact, globular cones. 



5. JUNfPERUS. 



Flowers dioecious, sometimes monoecious, in very small aments. 

 Barren aments scales peltate, bearing 3 6 anther-cells on their 

 lower margin. Fertile aments globose ; scales few, fleshy, adher- 

 ing at base, bearing 1 3 ovules, forming in fruit a scaly berry 

 containing 2 3 bony seeds. Cotyledons 2. 



1. J. communis. Juniper. 



Leaves linear, subulate, spreading, mucronate, bright-green below, glaucous 

 and paler above ; barren flowers in small, axillary aments; fertile flowers axil- 



lary, sessile, in small, globular cones ; berries round-cylindrical, dark-blue, and 

 of a sweetish-turpentine taste. A shrub with rigid branches, prostrate on the 

 ground, rarely erect and tree-like. 



2. J. Virginiana. 



Red Cedar. 



Leaves in 4 rows, crowded in pairs or threes, on young or rapidly growing 

 shoots, subulate, in other cases very small, triangular-ovate, closely imbricated ; 

 barren flowers in small, oblong aments ; berries small, blue, with a glaucous 

 bloom. A very small tree, of irregular growth, known in N. Eng. as SAVIX. 

 The trunk diminishes rapidly in size, with crowded, horizontal branches. The 

 wood is reddish and fragrant, very compact and lasting. Sometimes it appears 

 as a shrub with prostrate branches. April May. 



CLASS II. END6GENJE. 



ORDER CXIX. Aracese. Arum-tribe. 



SYNOPSIS OP THE GENERA. 



* Flowers all perfect. 



4. ACORUS. Spathe none. Spadix lateral, borne on an ensiform scape. Se- 

 pals 6. Stamens 6. 



5. SYMPLOOAKPUS. Spathe present. Spadix from the root Sepals 4. Sta- 

 mens 4. 



* * Flowers monoecious or polygamous. 



1. ARUM. Flowers monoecious, rarely polygamous. Spadix naked toward 

 the summit, with the pistillate flowers at base, and the staminate flowers above 

 them. 



2. PELTANDRA. Flowers monoecious, covering the spadix ; lower ones pis- 

 tillate, upper staminate. 



8. CALLA. Flowers covering the spadix, the lower ones perfect, the uppei 

 usually entirely staminate. 



i. ARUM. 



Flowers mostly monoecious, rarely polygamous-dioecious, situa 

 ted at the base of a spadix, which is naked above. Fertile flow 

 crs below. Barren above, inclosed in a cucullate spathe, convo- 

 lute at base. Perianth none. Berries distinct, 1-celled, several- 

 seeded. Per. 



1. A. triphyllum. Wake-robin. Indian Turnip. 



Acaulesccnt ; leaves mostly 2, on long petioles, sheathing at base, ternate ; 

 leaflets ovate or oval, acuminate, sessile ; spadix shorter than, and included 

 within the ovate, acuminate spathe, which is flattened and bent over the top of 

 the spadix, and is frequently marked with dark purple or whitish spots or 

 stripes, otherwise of a dark, shining green. A well-known plant, common in 

 rich, rocky woods. Scape 6' 12' high, arising from a globular, fleshy, rugose 

 conn, situated beneath the surface. This bulb possesses an intense acridity, 

 which-disappears by drying or heat. The fruit is a bunch of bright red berries, 

 ripe in autumn. May. 



2. PELTlNDRA. 



Flowers monoecious, covering the long spadix. Spathe elon- 

 gated, convolute, undulate on the margin. Perianth none. An- 

 thers on the upper part of the spadix, sessile, peltate. Ovaries at 

 the base of the spadix. Berries distinct, 1-celled, 1 3-seeded. 

 Per. 



1. P. Virginica. Arrow Arum. 



Acanlescent; leaves oblong-sagittate, acute at apex, with obtuse lobes, on long 

 petioles, dark, shining green, of large size ; spathe elongated, curved at apex, 

 dark green, enveloping the slender spadix ; ovaries sessile, in dense clusters at 

 the base of the spadix, becoming a bunch of green berries. An elegant water 

 plant, 10' 18' high, distinguished by its large, sagittate, shining, dark green 

 leaves, and its green, clustered berries. June July. 



3. CiLLA. 



Spathe ovate, spreading, persistent. Spadix covered with 

 flowers, the lower perfect, the upper often entirely staminate. 

 Perianth none. Berries distinct, several-seeded. 



1. C. palustris. 



Wild Calla. 



Acaulescent ; rhizoma creeping, rooting at the joints ; leaves cordate, acu- 

 minate, involute at the extremity, on long petioles; scape solitary, green and 

 thick ; spathe clasping at base, recurved, greenish or yellowish, white within : 

 berries in a small cluster, red and juicy when ripe. A low herb in cold swamps, 

 with a creeping rhizoma, pervaded, as is usual in the order, with an acrid prin- 

 ciple. Scape 8' 8' high. Common in the northern districts. June July. 



