liETULACE.^. (birch FAMILY.) 735 



radicle superior, short. Petals sometimes j^resent in the 

 fertile flowers — A small family of important, nut and 

 timber trees. 



JUOLAIVS, L. Walnut. Jauz. 



Staminate oithins simple, lateral, pendulous from the twigs of the 

 preceding year, perigonium 3-G-lobed; stamens in 2-co rows, the 

 connective produced beyond the anthers; filaments free, very short. 

 Pistillate Jloicers on a peduncle at the end of the branches; perigonium 

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

 calyx, with 4 small petals at sinuses; styles 2, very short; stigmas 

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

 ing irregularly at maturity, and separating from nut. Nut irregularly 

 wrinkled, 2-valved. 



J. rc§ia, L. 5 1^ o^' more, forming a hemispherical comus. 

 Leaves glabrous, with 5-6 (rarely 2) pairs of ovate to oblong, entire, 

 fragrant leaflets, slightly tapering at tip. ISTut 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 the noblest of trees. 



Order XCIX. BETULACE^, Endl. (Biucii Family.) 



Monoecious trees or shjni^hs^ loith alternate, simpUy most- 

 ly straigJit-veined leaves, hoth lands of Jloioers in scaly cat- 

 k{7is, and no invohccre to the nahed, 1-celled and l-seeded, 

 often winged, small nut — Staminate flowers. Scales 

 pedicelled, appendaged, usually 3-flowered. Perigonium 

 scale-like, or a catyx with 4-5 lobes or sepals. Stamens 2-4, 

 inserted at base of perigonium. Pistillate flowers. Scales 

 imbricated, 2-3-flowered. 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 0, embryo straight — Stipules 

 often early deciduous. 



AEI\US, Tourn. Alder. Naght. 



Staminate Jlowers 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. Pistillatejlowers in 

 ovoid or oblong catkins, the iiesliy, ovate scales 2-flowered at axil, 

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

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

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

 spring. 



A, Orieutalis, Dec. 5 ■^'^'-iffM- 4 to S. Leaves long-petioled, 

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

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

 irregularly crenate-dentate or doubly serrate, glabrous at upper surf^e, 



