BETULACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 111. 



BETULA. 



< . Catkins cylindrical, lax, imbricated all round, with ter- 

 nate, concave scales ; the middle one largest, ovate. Filaments 

 10-12, shorter than the middle scale, to which they are at- 

 tached. 5 . Catkins similar, but more dense ; scales horizontal, 

 peltate, dilated outwards, 3-lobed, 3-flowered. Ovary com- 

 pressed, bordered, of 2 cells. Styles 2, awl-shaped, downy. 

 Stigma simple. Nut oblong, deciduous, winged on each side, of 



1 cell, with a solitary seed. 



604. B. albaZmw. sp.pl 1393. Eng. Bot. t. 2198. Smith 

 Eng. Fl. iv. 153. Woods and rocks in moist mountainous parts 

 of Europe. (Birch.) 



A tall tree, with the epidermis of the trunk whitish and peeling off 

 readily in thin slips. Branches long, slender, nearly erect, covered 

 when young with a short close down. Leaves ovate or slightly deltoid, 

 acuminate, unequally serrated, slightly downy on the underside. 

 Catkins terminal, stalked, pendulous. Independently of many useful 

 purposes to which the bark of this plant is [applicable, it has also been 

 employed as a febrifuge, and yields by distillation a pyrogenous oil of 

 a very peculiar kind to which Russia leather, dressed with it, is said to 

 owe its remarkable odour. 



AL1S 7 US. 



$ . Catkin lax, imbricated all round with ternate scales, the 



2 lateral of which are minute, the central 3-flowered. Calyx 

 tubular, 4-lobed. Filaments 4, opposite the lobes of the calyx. 



? . Catkin firm, ovate, composed of 2-flowered simple scales. 

 Calyx 0. Ovary 2-celled, with 2 parallel, tapering, deciduous 

 styles. Nut ovate, bony, angular, not winged, 2-celled, 2-seeded. 



605. A. glutinosa Gartn. ii. 54. Smith Eng. FL iv. 132 



Betula Alnus Linn. sp. pi 1 394. % E. Bot. t. 1508. Meadows 

 and wet places all over Europe. (Alder.) 



A small crooked tree, with spreading, round smooth, dark brown 

 branches, glutinous when young. Leaves roundish-wedge-shaped, ob- 

 tuse, plaited, serrated, glutinous, deep green, with numerous parallel 

 veins, having bundles of hairs in their axils ; stipules roundish, entire. 

 A decoction of the bark is employed as a gargle in relaxation of the 

 mucous membranes of the fauces ; and in double tfce dose of cinchona 

 it has been administered with success in cases of ague. 

 293 u 3 



