A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



25 



Order 26. Juglandales 



53. Juglandaceas (from tlie genvis Juglans, a con- 

 traction of tlie Latin Joris glans, the nut of Jupiter). 

 Walnut Family. Fig. 15. Trees or shrubs, often resin- 

 ous: leaves alternate, exstipiilate, pinnately compound: 

 flowers mona'cious, small; the staminate in drooping 

 catkins with single perianth of 4 parts, or rarely 0, one 

 flower for each bract; the pistillate 2-3 together, with 

 perianth of 4 parts a<lherent to the ovary as are also 

 the bract and tjracteole; ovary inferior, 1 -celled; ovule 

 1, basal, orthotropous; stigmas usually 2- or 4-branched: 

 fruit a nut wit h a fleshy e.xocarp, or bursting irregularly, 

 or 4-valved, or winged. 



In this family are 6 genera and about 35 species of 

 the north temperate zone. The largest genus is Carya 

 with 10 species. The family is related to other Amen- 

 tifene, e.g., Myricaceae, Fagaceje, and Betulacea". The 

 indehiscent, 1-seeded fruit, basal seeds, 2 carpels, 

 perianth and pinnate leaves are distinctive. Fossil 

 species are known. 



The wood of Enghsh walnut is highly valued, but 

 that of Juglans nigra (black walnut) is one of the 

 most valuable of woods. Hickory wood is prized for 

 its hardness and toughness. The fruits of the English 

 walnut {J. regia), butternut {J. cinerea), and of 

 species of Carya (hickory) are among the most im- 

 portant food-nuts. The leaves and bark of Carya and 

 Juglans are purgative. Green dj'es are obtained from 

 Carya tomerUosa, and yellow from C. ovatn, C. sul- 

 cata, and C. glabra. Walnut oil and hickory oil are in 

 the trade. 



The cultivated genera in America are Carya or 

 Hicoria (Hickory, Pecan, Bittemut, Pignut, Mockemut, 

 Shellbark, Kingnut), native and hardy; Juglans 

 (Walnut, Butternut, Enghsh Walnut), ornamental, fruit , 

 and timber; Platycarya, ornamental; Pterocarya, orna- 

 mental. 



Order 27. Fagales 



54. Betulacese (from the genus Betiila, the ancient 

 Latin name of the birch). Birch Family. Fig. 15. Trees 

 or shrubs: leaves alternate, simple, mostly pinnately 

 parallel -veined: flowers moncecious, regular, much 

 reduced; the staminate in slender catkins; the pistillate 

 in short spikes, rarely in flexuous catkins or geminate; 

 3 flowers, rarely by reduction 2 or 1 flower behind each 

 bract; perianth of the staminate flower single, 2-4-lobed 

 or 0; stamens 2-10; perianth of the pistillate flower 

 absent in Betula and Alnus, in other genera an epigy- 

 nous crown of several tiny scales; ovary inferior, origi- 

 nally 2-celled and each ceU 1-ovuled, but only one cell 

 and 1 seed maturing; stigmas 2: fruit an indehiscent 

 nutlet, often winged; either separating from the bract 

 and bracteolcs (Alnus, Betula), or faUingwith them, in 

 which case these organs form a protective involucre 

 (Corylus), or a winged or bladdery organ concerned in 

 seed -dissemination (Carpinus, Ostrya); seeds anatro- 

 pous, exalbuminous. 



Six genera and about 75 species inhabit the extra- 

 tr.)pical northern hemisphere; many are arctic, some of 

 which are creeping. Fossil species are known. The 

 family is related to the Fagaeea; and other amentif- 

 erous families. The pistillate flowers in spikes, the 

 presence of a perianth in one or the other sex, the 

 cymose group of flowers for each bract, the 2 carpels, 

 and the single integument of the seed are characteristic. 



The wood of Alnus and Betula is prized by wagon- 

 makers, cabinet-makers and turners; charcoal for gun- 

 powder is made from this wood. The twigs of Betula 

 are made into brooms. The bark of Betula pnpyrifera 

 strips olT in thin plates and is used for making canoes 

 and for writing-paper. The very thin bark-layers of B. 

 Bhojpnttra of India also furnish writing-paper. Vinegar 

 and beer are made from the sugary sap of Betula, which 

 is also considered an efficient antiscorbutic. The bark 



of Alnus and Betula is used in tanning Russia leather, 

 and other kinds. Hazelnuts are the fruit of Corylus; 

 filberts of Corylus Avellana. Oil of betula has a flavor 

 like wintergreen. The wood of Ostrya is very hard and 

 prized for beetles. The wood of all the Betulaceae is 

 good for firewood. 



Several genera are in cultivation in America for orna- 

 ment or for the fruit (Corylus) such as: Alnus (Alder); 

 Betula (Birch); Carpinus (Hornbeam Tree, Blue 

 Beech, Water Beech) ; Corylus (Hazel, Filbert, Cobnut); 

 and Ostrya (Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood, Leverwood). 



55. Fagaceae (from the genus Fagus, the classical 

 name, in allusion to the esculent nuts). Beech Family. 

 Fig. 16. Trees or shrubs: leaves simple, alternate: flow- 

 ers monoecious; the staminate in slender catkins, one 

 flower with each bract and a perianth of 4-6 parts; the 

 pistillate solitary or in groups of 3, epigynous, the 

 perianth reduced; ovary mostly 3- or 6-ceiled; ovules 

 2 in each cell, suspended, all but one in the ovary 

 aborting; integuments 2; stigmas 3: fruit a 1-seeded 

 nut, which singly, or in a group of 2-3, is surrounded by 

 a special involucre. 



The family has 5 genera and about 600 species, all 

 natives of the subtropical and temperate northern 

 hemisphere, except the antarctic genus, Nothofagus. 

 The largest genera are Quercus with 200 species, and 

 Pasania with 100 species. The family is related to the 

 Betulacea^ and other amentiferous families; but the 

 staminate flowers alone in catkiiLi, the indehiscent 1- 

 seeded fruit, the 3 carpels, and the special involucre 

 are distinctive. There has been much debate as to the 

 morphology of the involucre, — whether it is composed 

 of the bracteoles of the little dichasium, or represents 

 sterile scales of the condensed catkin, or is a wholly 

 new outgrowth of the subfloral axis. The latter is a 

 recent view of Engler. This involucre becomes the 

 bur in beech and chestnut, and the cup in the oak. 



The wood of white oak, red oak and many other species 

 is very valuable, as is also that of beech and chestnut. 

 The bark of Quercus Suber of Spain yields bottle-cork. 

 The bark of Q. velutina of America is called quercitron, 

 and is used to dye yellow. The kermes insect, which 

 furnishes a crimson dye, lives on Q. coccifera of the 

 Mediterranean. The stings of gall insects produce the 

 commercial oak-galls from which tannic and gallic 

 acid are obtained, and from which ink was made. Offici- 

 nal creosote is distilled from the tar of species of Fagus. 

 The nut-like fruits of Castanea, Fagus, Quercus Ilex, 

 Q. Robur, and Q. ^■Egilops are eaten. The cups of Q. 

 /Egilops are sold for dyeing black and for tanning. The 

 bark from many species of this family is used for tan- 

 bark. 



In America several genera are cultivated for ornament, 

 food, and timber: Castanea inc. (Chestnut, Chinqua- 

 pin); Castanopsis Fagus (Beech); Nothofagus, httle 

 known; Quercus (Oak, Black Jack). 



Order 28. Urticales 



56. Ulmaceae (from the genus Ulmus, the classical 

 name). Elm Family. Fig. 16. Trees or shrubs with- 

 out milky juice: leaves alternate, usually oblique: flow- 

 ers bisexual or unisexual, regular, small; perianth simple; 

 parts 4-5, rarely 3-7; stamens of the same mmiber 

 opposite the sepals, rarely twice as many, not elasti- 

 cally incurved; ovary superior, 1-celled, 1-ovuled; the 

 ovule suspended, anatropous; stigmas usually 2: fruit 

 nut-like, drupaceous, or winged. 



Thirteen genera and about 140 species are generally 

 distributed in all but the polar regions. The largest 

 genus is Celtis, with 60 species. The family is closely 

 related to the Urt,icacea; and Moracea?. Its non- 

 elastic stamens, and suspended anatropous seeds are 

 important distinguishing characters. 



The seeds of some species of Celtis are edible. The 

 wood is used to make wind instruments, and the like. 



