198 ORDER CXVI. PLATANACE.E BUTTON WOOD-FAMILY. ORDER CXVH. UTRICACE.E NETTLE-TRIBE. 



8. S. cordata. 



Heart-leaved Willow. 



Leaves lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate, acuminate, truncate 

 or cordate at base, smooth, paler beneath ; stipules reniform, dentate, some- 

 times very large and as long as the petioles, and sometimes small ; aments ap- 

 pearing with the leaves, furnished with several leafy bracts at base ; scales black 

 or brownish, hairy, persistent; ovary pedicellate, smooth, lanceolate, acuminate. 

 A common and variable shrub, 4 15 ft. high, in wet grounds. The leaves vary 

 much in shape and texture, being sometimes narrow and hardly, if at all, trun- 

 cate or cordate at base. The fertile aments become 2' 3' long in fruit. This 

 species includes several usually described separately. May. 



* * * Aments appearing after the leaves, and terminating the young 'branch- 

 lets just grown. 



9. S. alba. 



White Willow. 



Leaves lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, more or less silky- 

 pubesoent, especially beneath ; stipules lanceolate ; scales yellowish-green, fall- 

 ing before the fruit ripens ; stigma short, recurved, sessile. A moderately tall 

 tree, introduced and naturalized. It is very variable. The most common va- 

 riety is Var. VITTELLINA, -with long, yellowish shoots. Var. CCERTJLEA has 

 leaves of a bluish hue, nearly smooth when grown. May June. 



10. S. fragilis. Brittle Willow. 



Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, smooth beneath, silky when young, at length 

 smooth and glaucous beneath, on glandular petioles ; stipules half-cordate. A 

 tall tree, with smooth and polished branches, extremely brittle at base, culti- 

 vated as an ornamental tree, and also for basket-work. It is very variable. 

 Var. DEcipiENS has the lowest leaves of the branches obovate, obtuse. Var. 

 EtrssELiANA has long, bright leaves, and the extremities of shoots of the season, 

 silky-pubescent in late summer and early autumn. 



11. S. nigra. Black Willow. 



Leaves narrow-lanceolate, acuminate, tapering at base, serrate, mostly smooth 

 and green on both sides ; stipules small, deciduous ; aments cylindric, hairy ; sta- 

 mens 3 6, bearded at base. Varies with very long and falcate leaves, and 

 large, lunate, reflexed stipules. A small tree with a rough, furrowed, blackish 

 bark. The young shoots are very slender and brittle at base. Common along 

 streams. May June. 



12. S. lucida. 



Shining Willow. 



Leaves ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, tapering to a long, slender point, 

 serrate, smooth, and bright shining green on both sides, rather thick and firm 

 in texture; stipules oblong, dentate; ovaries smooth ; stamens mostly 5. A 

 very elegant shrub, distinguished by its stout, yellowish-green branchlets, and 

 its broad, glossy leaves. Stem 8 15 ft. high. May June. 



13. S. Babyljnica. 



Weeping Willow. 



Branchlets very long and slender, drooping ; leaves lanceolate, acuminate, 

 smooth, glaucous beneath; stipules roundish-oblique, acuminate; ovaries ses- 

 sile, ovate, smooth. A beautiful tree, universally cultivated, and distinguished 

 by its long, drooping branches. There is a variety with the leaves curled into 

 a circle or ring. 



2. P6PULUS. 



Aments cylindrical. Bracts fringed and lobed at apex. Flow- 

 ers on an oblique, turbinate disk. Stamens 8 30. Style very 

 short Stigma long, bifid. Aments drooping and preceding the 

 leaves. Trees. 



1. P. tremuloides. 



American Aspen. 

 Poplar. 



White 



Leaves rounded-cordate, abruptly acuminate, dentate, smooth on both sides, 

 pubescent on the margin, dark green, on flattened petioles; scales of the ament 

 cut into several linear segments, fringed with hairs. A common tree in forests, 

 with a smooth, whitish bark. The thin, dilated petioles, being acted on by the 

 slightest disturbance of the air, keep the leaves in continual motion. April. 



2. P. grandidentata. 



Large Poplar. 



Leaves roundish-ovate, acute, dentate, with large, unequal, sinuate teeth, 

 white-downy beneath when young, at length smooth on both sides ; scales of 

 the ament cut into several small, unequal segments, scarcely fringed with hairs. 

 A larger tree than the last, common in woods. Its leaves are destitute of the 

 trembling motion peculiar to the last April. 



3. P. candicans. Balm of Gilead. 



Leaves cordate-ovate, acuminate, serrate, whitish beneath, with reticulated 



veins and hairy petioles, dark-green ; buds resinous. A tree of medium size, 

 common in cultivation, and about houses. The young branches are round, and 

 the bark is smooth and greenish. April 



4. P. dilatata. 



Lombardy Poplar. 



Leaves deltoid, acuminate, smooth, serrate, as broad as long; trunk fur- 

 rowed. A tall tree, of regular, pyramidal growth, common in cultivation as a 

 shade tree. April. 



5. P. alba. Silver-leaf Poplar. 



Leaves broad, cordate-ovate, acuminate, lobed and toothed, dark shining- 

 green above, clothed below with dense, white, silky pubescence ; fertile aments 

 ovate ; stigmas 4. A large tree of rapid growth, cultivated for ornamental pur- 

 poses. It derives its beauty from the contrast between the upper and under 

 sides of the leaves. April. 



OKDEE CXVI. Platanaceae. Buttonwood- 

 family. 



1. PLATANUS. 



Barren flowers consisting of numerous stamens, with small 

 scales intermixed. Fertile flowers in separate aments ; ovaries 

 clavate, angular; style filiform, simple. Achenia coriaceous, 

 clothed with reddish hairs below, 1-seeded. Trees. 



1. P. occidentals. 



Buttonwood. 



Leaves large, angular, with acute lobes, downy beneath when young, at 

 length smooth ; flowers greenish, in dense, globular heads, on long, drooping 

 peduncles. A very large and noble tree, with whitish branches. The bark 

 scales off in large plates, discovering the white surface beneath, and giving a 

 mottled appearance to the tree. The globular heads of fruit remain attached 

 most of the winter. 



OKDER CXVIL Urticaceae. Nettle-tribe. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 



SUBORDER I. Morese. 



Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves and milky juice, producing fleshy fruits. 



1. MORUS. Fertile flowers in a dense, ovoid or oblong spike, forming a 

 smooth, compound berry. 



2. Fictjs. Flowers arranged on the inside of an obovoid, fleshy, closed re- 

 ceptacle. 



SUBORDER II. Cannabinese. 



Herbs with opposite stipulate leaves, and a watery juice. Styles 2. 



8. CANNABIS. Erect herbs. Barren flowers in cymose panicles. Fertile 

 in sessile spikes. 



4 H^MUius. Twining herbs. Barren flowers in axillary panicles. Fertile 

 in strobile-like aments. 



SUBORDER III. Urticeae. 



Herbs with opposite or alternate leaves, and a watery juice. Styles single, 

 or none. 



5. tTRTiCA. Calyx of the fertile flowers with 2 4 distinct segments. Sting- 

 ing herbs. 



6. PILBA. Calyx of the fertile flowers with 8 distinct segments, and with 8 

 rudimentary stamens in the form of cucullate scales at base. Smooth, suc- 

 culent herbs. 



7. BOSIIMERIA. Calyx of the fertile flowers tubular, entire, or with 4 lobes. 



1. M6EUS. 



Flowers mono3cious or dkecious, the different kinds in sepa- 

 rate spikes. Calyx 4-parted. Stamens 4. Styles 2. Achenia 

 ovate, compressed, contained within the fleshy calyx, the whole 

 forming an oblong, juicy, berry-like fruit Trees. 



1. M. rubra. 



Red Mulberry. 



Leaves rough-pubescent beneath, cordate or rounded at base, acuminate, 

 ei>tire, 8 several lobed ; flowers small, often dicocious ; fruit dark-red, sweetish. 

 A small tree, not uncommon in N. Eng., but frequent Westward and Southward. 

 May. 



2. M. alba. 



White Mulberry. 



Leaves ovate, cordate and oblique at base, unequally serrate, often lobed, 

 nearly or quite smooth; flowers greenish, in small, roundish, pedunculate 

 clusters; fruit yellowish-white, sweetish and insipid. A small tree, frequent in 



