218 BALSAMIFLUiE. Liquidambar. 



2. p. 219 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 621 ; Torr. compend. p. 357 ; Beck, hot. p. 327. L. peregrina, sp. 

 pi. (ed. 1.) 2. p. 999. L. styraciflua, Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 2. p. 1418. 



A large tree, frequently attaining the height 60 - 70 feet and 1-2 feet in diameter (in 

 the Southern States much greater) ; the smaller branches often furnished with thick corky 

 ridges. Leaves 3-5 inches in diameter, dark green and shining, usually with 5-7 large 

 unequal spreading lobes, which are very acute and finely serrate, often sparingly toothed. 

 Sterile aments erect, consisting of several small globular heads which are aggregated in a 

 conical cluster. Fertile aments near the base of the sterile, pedunculate and finally pendu- 

 lous ; in fruit about an inch in diameter, forming a hgneous prickly strobile of a brownish 

 color. Capsules closely connected in a globose head, each containing a very few winged 

 fertile seeds, and a great number of infertile ones resembling coarse sawdust. 



Moist woods and borders of swamps : common in the southern part of the State ; not often 

 seen north or west of Albany. Fl. April. Fr. September. The wood of this ornamental 

 tree is fine-grained, and is sometimes employed for cabinet work ; but it is apt to warp. 

 Exposed to moisture, it soon decays. In New-York, it is chiefly used for making cofEns. The 

 leaves are fragrant when bruised ; and when touched by the frosts of autumn, assume a fine 

 purplish red color. I believe it is only in the Southern States that the tree exudes the aromatic 

 turpentine from which it derives its name. This matter contains no benzoic acid, and is there- 

 fore not a balsam. 



Order CIV. PLATANACEiE. Lestib. The Plane-tree Tribe. 



Flowers monoecious, in globose pedunculate aments, destitute of floral envelopes. 

 Sterile pl. Stamens numerous, mixed with clavate scales, densely crowded. 

 Fertile fl. Ovaries numerous, crowded, hairy at the base, mixed with clavate 

 scales, one-celled, with one or two ovules in each : styles subulate : stigma 

 small. Fruit a small coriaceous one-seeded nut, with pappus-like hairs at the 

 base. Seeds albuminous. — Large trees, with alternate palmately veined and 

 lobed leaves with sheathing stipules. Buds concealed within the swollen base 

 of the petioles. 



1. PLATANUS. Linn.; Endl. gen. 1901. PLANE TREE, button-wood. 



[So named from the Greek, plalys, broad ; in allusion to the ample shade of its foliage.] 

 Character same as that of the order. 



1. Platanus occidentalis, Linn. Button-wood. Sycamore. 



Leaves angularly lobed or obscurely palmate, sinuate -toothed, pubescent underneath ; 



