125 



BEKCH— FAGUS, (Tourn.) L. 



This genus comprises trees witli a close, smooth and grayish bark, 

 a light horizontal spray, simple straight-veined leaves, liard and dif- 

 fuse-porous wood and long, slender, conical, sharp-pointed buds. The 

 members of this genus are limited to the northern hemisphere with 

 only 1 native representative in xVmerica and 4 in the eastern hemis- 

 phere. One of the latter is widely distributed in Europe and south- 

 western Asia. It is the Beech which figures in ancient literature 

 and is now known as the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). 

 This species is now planted extensively for ornamental purposes in 

 America, especially 3 varieties of it, with purple leaves, cut leaves, 

 and pendant branches respectively. The wood of the European 

 Beech is u.sed extensively in France and Germany for lumber and fuel 

 and the nuts are used to feed swine. The nuts also yield a valuable 

 oil. The other species of the eastern hemisphere are found in east- 

 ern Asia. The description of the sole native American representa- 

 tive, found on page 123, will suflice for the genus. 



CHESTNUT— CASTANEA, (Tourn.) Hill. 



This genus comprises 5 species of trees and shrubs with furrowed 

 bark, round branchlets without terminal buds, ring-{)orous wood 

 which is rich in tannin and durable in contact with the soil. The 

 leaves are simple, alternate, stiff, sharp-toothed, and straight-veined. 

 The members of tliis genus blossom in summer and mature their 

 fruit the same autumn at about the time when the first frost ap- 

 pears. The fruit consists of a large spiny bur in which 1-5 nuts are 

 borne. The nuts are highly prized as food. Three .species of Chest- 

 nuts are cultivated in this country for their fruit, the American, the 

 European, and the Japanese. The Chestnuts are confined to the 

 northern hemisphere, both eastern and western. No representatives 

 of this genus are at present found in the western part of North 

 America, but records show that tlie Chestnut was at one time indi- 

 genous to this region. Three species are native in eastern North 

 America, 2 of which attain tree-size, while 1 (Castanea alnifolia, 

 Nutt.) seldom' exceeds 3 ft. in height and is found in the south 

 Atlantic states. The subjoined key will aid in identifying the two 

 soecies native to Pennsylvania. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Page. 

 1. Large trees; leaves oblone-lanceolalo, siuooth and green on both sides; nuts 1-5. 

 usually 2-3, in a bur; buds i of an inch long covered by smooth chestnut-brown 



scales C. dentata 126 



1. Small trees or shiubs, leaves oblong, whitish downy beneath; nuts rounded, usually 



one in a bur; buds i of an inch long, covered by scurfy red scales C. pumila 127 



