ISETULACE^E. (J3IRCII FAMJLY.) 735 



radicle superior, short. Petals sometimes present in tlie 

 fertile llowers — A small family of important, nut and 

 timber trees, 



JUOL.A]\l$, L. WalxSUT. Jauz. 



Staminate catMns simple, latenil, pendulous from tlie twigs of the 

 preceding year, perigoniimi 3-6-lobed; stamens in 2-co rows, the 

 connective produced bcj'ond the anthers; filaments free, very short. 

 PlstillatG Jioicers on a peduncle at the end of the branches; perigonium 

 double, connate with ovary to base of style, consisting of a 4-toothed 

 calyx, with 4 small petals at sinuses; styles 3, very short; stigmas 

 club-shaped, fringed; pericarp fleshy-, indehiscent, drying and rujjtur- 

 iug irregularly at maturity, and separating from nut. Nut irrcguhirly 

 wrinkled, 2-valved. 



jr. regia, L. 3 1'^ or more, forming a l^emispherical comus. 

 Leaves glabrous, with 0-6 (rarely 2) pairs of ovate to oblong, entire, 

 fragrant leaflets, slightly tapering at tip. Xut ovate to globular, .02 to 

 .04 in diameter, with 4 partitions ; scales of embryo in 2 rows — Spring 

 — Cultivated everywhere, usually by the village fountains, for its 

 delicious nuts, and its valuable timber. One of tlie noblest of trees. 



Order XCIX. BETULACEJE, Endl. (Birch Pa^iily.) 



MojiceGious trees or shrubs, with alternaie, simjyle, most- 

 ly straight-veined leaves, Ijoih Idnds of floioers in seedy eat- 

 hins, and no involucre to the nailed, 1-celled etnd 1-seeded, 

 often vnnejed, small nut — Staminate flowers. Scales 

 pedicelled, appendaged, usually 3-llowercd. Perigonium 

 scale-like, or a calyx with tt-.5 lobes or sepals. Stamens 2-4:, 

 inserted at base of perigonium. Pistillate foivers. Scales 

 imbricated, 2-3-ilowered. Perigonium 0. Ovary 2-celled, 

 with 1 ovule in each cell, suspended from a point a little 

 below the apex of the partition ; stigmas 2. Fruit iLdehiscent. 

 Testa membranous, albumen (3, embrj^o straight — Stipules 

 often early deciduous. 



AEXl'S, Tourn. Alder. Naght. 



Staminate Jloicem generally 3 under each shield-shaped scale, the 

 lower margin of scale 4-lobed. Perigonium 4-lobed or 4-sepaled. 

 Stamens 4, filaments short, free, anthers 2-celled. Fistillntejloirers in 

 ovoid or oblong catkins, the lleshy, ovate scales 2-llowere*d at axil, 

 growing larger and woody in fruit, cuueate-obovate, persistent, 4- 

 appendaged. Ovary minute; stigmas tiliform. Nutlets flattened, wing- 

 less, or Avinged — Trees or shrubs flowering in late winter and early 

 spring. 



A. Orieulalis, Dec. 5 ^^xgk- 1 to S. Leaves long-petiolcd, 

 wedge-shaped, rounded, or somewhat heart-shaped and often oblique at 

 base, ovate-oblong to elliptical, obtuse, acute, or acuminate, more or less 

 irregularly crenate-dentatc or doubly serrate, glabrous at uppci surface. 



