Handbook of Tkkks ok tiik XcMrniKKN States axd Caxada. 51 



The Butternut wlion growing in the open 

 rarely attains a greater height than (i(J or 70 

 ft., its short trunk soiuetinies ;! or 4 ft. in 

 diameter suun dividing into a few hirge 



id fa 



hranehes, wiiieli spi 

 wide symmetrieal Ihit or rounded toj). In 

 forests it sometimes attains tlu- lieight of 100 

 ft. It prefers rieh soil along tiie haid^s of 

 streams and on low hillsides, eommonly in 

 company with the Beeeh, Yellow Jiireh, Maples, 

 Elms, Red Si)ruee, etc. 



Its wood is light, a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighing 25. 4G lbs., not strong, of a 

 gray-brown color and is valued for interior 

 llnishing, cabinet work, etc. Its sap is rieh 

 in sugar, and a fairly good quality of syrup is 

 made from it. though it does not harden to 

 form cakes; its bark possesses cathartic 

 properties; its nuts make a delicious food, and 

 the shucks are used for dying purposes. i 



Leaves 11-17 In. long, viscid-pubescent, with 

 stout petioles and 11-19 oblong-lanceolate .yellow- 

 ish green rugose leaflets which are rounded and 

 unequal at base, acuminate, finely serrate excejit 

 at base, turning .vellow in autumn and falling 

 early. Floirem (May-.Tune) : staininate aments 

 lU.-:! in. at first and cldngating to .".-.". in.; caly.x 

 yellow-green nsimlly (i-lcibcd with rusty pubescent 

 acute bracts; stanii'us s-lii witli dark brown 

 anthers and sliglitly lobed conneetives ; pistillate 

 in :!-.S-ilowered spikes with sticky glandular hairs, 

 pointed caly.x-lobes and l)riglit red plumose sti-.r- 

 nias usually not fully unfolding luitil after libera- 

 tion of pollen. Fruit in racemose clusters of 2-."». 

 ovoid-oblong, 1 1/^-2 i/i in. long, sticky pubescent 

 with rough deeply sculptured 4-ribl)ed nut, 

 acuminate at apex, 2-celled at base, 1-celled above 

 and containing a very oily edible seed. 



I. A. W., I. 14. 



