BIRCH FAMILY 



upon the tree stiff and rigid all winter long, but respond to 

 the first warmth of returning spring. 



The pistillate blossoms are little cone-like catkins produced 

 in the spring. When these mature they open to let the seeds 

 fall but themselves remain upon the tree all winter and 

 frequently through the second summer. 



HOP HORNBEAM. IRONWOOD 



Ostrya virginiclna. 



Small, slender tree. Usually found on dry gravelly slopes and 

 ridges, often in the shade of oaks, maples, and other larger trees. 

 In Arkansas and Texas it reaches the height of fifty feet ; ranges 

 throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. 



Bark. Grayish brown, furrowed and broken into narrow oblong 

 scales. Branchlets slender, tough, at first pale green, later dark red 

 brown. Rich in tannic acid. 



Wood. Light brown tinged with red, sapwood nearly white ; 

 heavy, tough, exceedingly close-grained, very strong and hard. 

 Durable in contact with the soil and will take a fine polish. Used 

 for small articles like levers, handles of tools, mallets. Sp. gr., 

 0.8284; weight of cu. ft., 51.62 Ibs. 



Leaf Buds. Ovate, acute, light chestnut brown, one-fourth of an 

 inch long. Inner scales enlarge when spring growth begins. No 

 terminal bud is formed. 



Leaves. Alternate, oblong-ovate, three to five inches long, 

 rounded, cordate, or wedge-shape, or sometimes unequal at the 



base, sharply and 

 doubly serrate, 

 acute or acuminate ; 

 feather-veined, mid- 

 rib and veins prom- 

 inent on the under 

 side. They come 

 from the bud light 

 bronze green, 



Branch of Hop Hornbeam, Ostrya virgimana, Showing the Smooth above and 

 Staminate Aments as they Appear in Winter. hairy beneath ; when 



full grown are thin, 



extremely tough, dull dark yellow green above, pale yellow green 

 beneath. In autumn they turn a clear yellow. Petiole short, slen- 

 der, hairy ; stipules caducous. 



316 



