TREES AND SHRUBS 



Floxvers yellow, in axillary clusters ; Calyx 4-partite, adnate to lower 

 part of ovary, lobes spreading or recurved, oval, ciliate, pubescent ; Petals 

 4, linear, persistent ; Stamens 4, alternating with 4 scale-like staminodes, 

 filaments short, anthers dehiscing by a valve ; Ovary 2-celled, styles 2, 

 subulate, spreading, persistent ; Fndt a capsule, woody, 2-valved, beaked 

 with the 2 persistent styles, densely pubescent, orange-brown, 1 -seeded. 



Leaves alternate, obovate, acuminate or rounded, acutely serrated, entire 

 or dentate at base, dark green and usually glabrous above, lighter beneath, 

 pubescent on midribs and principal veins, 4-6 ins. long, 2-2J ins. broad ; 

 petioles short ; stipules deciduous. Autumn tint yellow. 



A deciduous shrub, 6-12 ft. ; or small tree, 20-30 ft.; Branches spreading; 

 Twigs flexible, orange-brown to reddish-brown, rusty stellate hairs when 

 young ; Bark brown, smooth, scaly ; Buds acute, orange-brown, pubescent ; 

 Wood hard, light brown, heavy, cross-grained. 



Introduced from N. America, 1736. Generic name from Gr. hama, 

 together, and melon, a fruit; the fruit accompanies the flower. 



SWEET GUM, Liqjiidamhar styraciflua. 



Parks, gardens, plantations. April. Best in moist loamy soil in sheltered 

 position. Propagated by layering of shoots, September — November; seeds 

 sown in sandy soil outdoors October, November, March or April, transplanting 

 2 3 years afterwards. 



Floivers greenish-yellow, inconspicuous, monoecious ; 3Iales in terminal 

 racemes, conical or sub-globose, surrounded by 4 deciduous bracts ; Females 

 in solitary and axiUary sub-globose heads on long pedicels; 3fales without 

 calyx and corolla; Stamens indefinite, interspersed with minute scales, fila- 

 ments shorter than anthers ; Females without sepals, calyx-limb nearly 

 obsolete; Stamens usually 4, and abortive; Ovai-y partly inferior, 2 united 

 carpels; styles subulate, recurved, persistent; Fruit a woody capsule, 1-1 J in. 

 diam., crowned by hard curved styles, consolidated into globose head ; seed 



winged. 



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