Leaves Alternate. 203 



The Mountain Ash or " Rowan Tree" has for a long 

 time been renowned as a safeguard against witches and 

 all evil spirits. A mere twig of it suffices. 



" Rowan-tree and red thread 

 Put the witches to their speed." 



" The spells were vain, the hag returned 



To the queen in sorrowful mood, 



Crying that witches have no power 



Where there is row'n-tree wood." 



Genus JUGLANS, L. (Walnut.) 



From two Latin words meaning nut of Jupiter. 



Fig. 102. Black Walnut, J. nigra, L. 



Leaves, COMPOUND (odd-feathered ; leaflets, thirteen to 

 twenty-one) ; ALTERNATE ; EDGE OF LEAFLETS SHARP- 

 TOOTHED. 



Outline of leaflet, long egg-shape. Apex, taper-pointed. 

 Base, rounded or slightly heart-shaped, and one-sided. 



Leaf-stem, slightly downy. Leaflet-stem, very short. 



Leaf, twelve inches long, or more. Leaflets, about two to 

 four inches long ; the lower pairs shortest ; slightly 

 downy beneath. 



Bark, blackish and thick. 



Fruit, about two inches in diameter; rounded ; the husk 

 greenish-yellow when ripe, roughly dotted, spongy, 

 decaying without splitting into sections ; the nut 

 dark, and deeply and roughly furrowed. October. 



Found, from Western Massachusetts westward and south- 

 ward. Its finest growth is west of the Alleghany 

 Mountains. Eastward it is now everywhere scarce. 



