SPERMATOPHYTA JUGLANDALES 



401 



anth adnate to the ovary; anthers erect, 2-celled; pistillate flowers usually 2- 

 bracteolate, calyx 4-lobed or with petals; ovary inferior, 1 -celled or incom- 

 pletely 2-4 celled; ovule solitary, erect; styles 2; fruit generally a drupe, dehi- 

 scent or indehiscent; the involucre regarded by some as the calyx, encloses the 

 nut, which is incompletely 2-4 celled; endosperm none, cotyledons corrugated, 

 oily. One family Juglandaceae. The English Walnut (Juglans regia) from 

 the Mediterranean region to the Himalayas is extensively cultivated in Cali- 

 fornia, Spain, France, Italy, and other warm temperate countries; butternut 

 (Juglans cinerea}, from New Brunswick to North Dakota and Nebraska, pro- 

 duces a valuable wood which is, however, inferior to the black walnut (Juglans 

 nigra), distributed from Massachusetts to Minnesota, Kansas and Texas, but 



Fig. 183. Cork Wood (Leitncria floridana). The 

 wood of this plant is extremely light. It grows in swamps 

 in Southern Missouri and Florida. (\V. S. Dudgeon.) 



the timber is becoming scarce. There is a popular impression that the black 

 walnut is poisonous to vegetation growing under the trees. California Walnut 

 is /. calif or nica. The Japanese walnut (/. Sicboldiano} produces a large, thick- 

 shelled nut. The bark of Juglans contains juglandic acid C 10 H 6 O g . The 

 Pterocarya caucasica is a native to the Trans-Caucasus. 



The genus Carya is native to North America and yields valuable timber 

 and nuts. The nut of the pecan (Carya illinoensis) is an important article of 

 commerce in Texas and other southern states. The wood is also used. The 

 shellbark hickory (Carya ovata) and the Missouri hickory (C. laciniata) supply 

 valuable woods which are used in the manufacture of ax handles and for parts 

 of wagons. The nut of the latter is large but like the preceeding one and the 



