58 KEY AND FLORA 



forks of the veins and numerous black glands, 2-3 in. long, with 

 slender petioles. Staminate catkins 3-4 in. long; pistillate catkins 

 1-1^ in. long, peduncles 2-bracted. Rich soil on hillsides, along 

 streams, and near lakes and swamps, N. and N.E. The beautiful 

 bark is much used by the Indians for canoes, for basket making, 

 and for other purposes. 



V. ALNUS Hill 



Shrubs or small trees. Leaves petioled, serrate. Flower 

 buds stalked, appearing the previous season ; staminate cat- 

 kins racemed, drooping ; flowers 3-6 in the axil of each bract, 

 subtended by 1-2 bractlets; perianth 4-parted; stamens 4; fila- 

 ments short. Pistillate catkins erect ; flowers 2-3 in the axil 

 of each bract ; perianth replaced by 2-4 minute bractlets which 

 are adherent to the bract. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2. Fruit a 

 winged or angled nut ; bracts of the pistillate flowers some- 

 what fleshy, persistent, becoming woody in fruit.* 



1. A. incana Moench. SPECKLED ALDER. A shrub 8-20 ft. high. 

 Leaves broadly oval or ovate, rounded at the base, sharply (some- 

 times doubly) serrate, white and usually downy beneath. Fruit 

 round. Forming thickets by streams, very common N. 



2. A. rugosa Spreng. SMOOTH ALDER. A shrub or small tree with 

 smooth bark. Leaves obovate, rounded or obtuse at the apex, acute 

 at the base, sharply and minutely serrate, smooth above, downy be- 

 neath, petioled ; stipules oval, deciduous. Staminate catkins 2-4 in. 

 long ; fruiting catkins ovoid, short-peduncled. Fruit ovate, wingless. 

 Banks of streams and borders of marshes, ranging far S. Leaves 

 often persistent during the winter.* 



18. FAGACE.3S. BEECH FAMILY 



Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined ; 

 stipules deciduous. Flowers monoecious, the staminate in heads, 

 or in drooping, spreading, or erect catkins ; calyx minute ; petals 

 none ; stamens 4-20. Pistillate flowers solitary or in small 

 clusters, each flower subtended by more or less united bracts, 

 which at maturity form a cup or bur ; calyx minutely toothed ; 

 petals none ; ovary 2-7-celled, but becoming 1-celled. Fruit a 

 1-seeded nut,* 



