20 



Bulletin of the University of Texas 



anceship with it. It serves merely as our introduction. An inti- 

 mate acquaintance depends on a knowledge of its distribution, 

 family relationship, characteristics, soil and water requirements, 

 products, economic or horticultural value in short, all that may 

 be learned about it. The writer hopes that no one will be found 

 who retains the hopeless attitude that to know more about 

 plants causes a lessening of our appreciation of their beauty. 



HOW TO USE THE KEY 



The number of species which occurs in our tree flora is so 

 great that descriptions alone would not enable the beginner to 

 determine the name of a tree without long and tedious effort, 

 which in the end would frequently prove uncertain. Accord- 

 ingly, the key has been arranged in such a way that if followed 

 step at a time the investigator may arrive at the proper de- 

 scription with relative ease and accuracy. Suppose, for example, 



I. Outlines and Bases of Simlpe Leaves. 



1. Linear. 2. Lanceolate (lance-shaped). 3. Oblong. 4. Elliptic. 

 5. Oval. 6. Ovate (egg-shaped). 7. Oblanceolate. 8. Spatulate 

 (spatula-like). 9. Obovate (reversed ovate). 10. Cuneate (wedge- 

 shaped). 



one wished to find the name of the American elm. The first 

 choice to be made is between "leaves needle, scale or awl-like; 

 fruit a cone of dry scales or a berry-like cone," and "leaves with 

 expanded blades, fruit not as above." This choice is easily 

 made in favor of the latter. Under "I," leaves compound, or 

 "II," leaves simple, the beginner will find it necessary to consult 

 the glossary and illustrations to determine just what is meant by 



