aXTPVUFEUM 255 



J'Jtijmoioyi/. — The name Corylus is said to he derived from the Greek Kopus, 

 a helmet, referriug to the mauuer in which tlie calyx enwraps the fruit. 

 The specific name, avelluna, is derived from Avelliuo, the name of a city in 

 southern Italy. Colurna is from the Greek words k6\os, mutilated, and ovpi, 

 a tail, referring to the lacerated fringe of the fruit-envelope. liostrata, Latin, 

 signifies " beaked," and refers to the beak-like extremity in which the fruit- 

 covering of this species terminates. The word Americana explains itself. The 

 common name, hazelnut, is from the Anglo-Saxon fidsi/, a head-dre.ss, that is, 

 a nut witli a head-dress. Filbert has been regarded as a corruption of the 

 word " full-beard," referring to the fringed envelope. 



History. — The history of this plant is very obscure. It is indigenous to the 

 countries of the Levant. It was originally brought into Italy from Pontus, 

 and was called by the Komans mix Pontlca, which name was changed in 

 process of time into nux aveliana, because the plant was first cultivated near 

 the city Avellino, in the kingdom of Naples. It now grows all over middle, 

 southern, and western Europe. 



Use. — The hazelnut is a common dessert nut, and in parts of western Asia 

 and Europe it constitutes an important article of food. 



The wood of the C. colurna is white, and of a fine'grain ; it is used for hoops 

 and fishing-rods. The wood of the other species is wortliless for timber. The 

 fruit is an article of considerable economic and commercial importance. 



FAGUS, L. (Beech.) Staniinate flowers in drooping, globose, head- 

 like catkins, 3 to 4 in a gronp or head, accompanied by minute 

 deciduous bracts ; calyx bell-shaped. 5-7-parted ; stamens 8-1*2, and 

 sometimes 16 in number, attached to the bottom of the calyx, and 

 extending above its mouth ; filaments slender, with 2-celled anthers. 

 Pistillate flowers, in groups of 2 to 6, usually in 2's, inclosed within a 

 pitcher-shaped 4-lobed involucre, made up of a number of scale-like 

 processes, interior united ; calyx with 6 awl-shaped lobes ; styles 3 in 

 number, slender. Fruit, an edged, three-faced nut, dark : shell tough ; 

 kernel white and sweet, edible. Leaves simple and alternate. Flowers 

 apetalous, presenting a green hue. 



1. F. ferruginea, Ait. (American Beech.) Stem 40 to 60 feet high, and 1 to 3 

 feet in diameter, regularly and densely branched, forming a symmetrical head ; 

 bark ashy-gray, smooth. Leaves oblong-ovate, pointed, toothed, veins extend- 

 ing into the teeth. Fruit-covering armed with spreading and crooked 

 prickles. 



2. F. sylvatica, L. (Beech of Europe.) Trunk from fiO to 80 feet high, 2 

 to 4 feet in diameter. Leaves ovate, dentate, glabrous, with margins cihate. 

 Fruit inclosed in a rough envelope, armed with blunt prickles, otherwi.se a.s 

 F. ferruginea Under this species there are several well marked varieties or 

 subspecies. 



3. F. obliqua, Mx. (Oblique-leaved Beech ) Leaves ol)li(iue, otherwi.se like 

 F. sylvatica. 



4. F. colorata, DC. f. (Cuprea. Copper Beech ) Leaves copper colored. 



5. F. betuloides. Mx. (Birch-leaved Beech.) Leaf like the birch, and ever- 

 green ; forms forests in Tierra del Fuego; also native in VanDieman's Land. 



