256 



DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY 



Remarkable for the production of an edible fungus, which appears on its 

 branches. There are three other well marked species in South America. 



Geography. — The beech grows well in the temperate zones up to 60° north 

 latitude, and as far south as 50°, but does not flourish in the tropics. 



Etymology. — Fagus, the generic name, comes from the Greek word cpayeTu, 

 eat, because the Greeks used the nuts for food. The specific names are de- 

 rived from the Latin: ferruginea, iron-wooded; sylvatica, from sylva, growing 

 in the woods ; betuloides, from betula, bircWike ; obliqua, oblique-leaved. The 

 common name, beech, signifies "eat." 



History. — The beech was a well-known tree in ancient times, esteemed for 

 its fruit and for its shade by both the Greeks and the Romans. Vergil im- 

 mortalized it. He describes Tityrus in his First Eclogue as reclining beneath 

 the shade of a broad-spreading beech tree. All the species have been intro- 

 duced into the gardens and planted grounds of Europe. 



Use. — The nut of the beech in the north of Europe is a highly prized 

 dessert nut, and constitutes an important part of the food of the inhabitants 

 of northeastern Poland and western Russia. A delicate oil, rivalling that of 

 the olive, is obtained from it, which is used for the table, and also for illumi- 

 nating purposes, and large droves of swine are fattened upon it. 



The wood is hard, and is prized for fuel, and used in cabinet ware for chairs, 

 bedsteads, screws, and wooden shovels ; also for shoemakers' lasts. The 

 F. ferruginea of North America and F. sylvatica of Europe are the most 

 important for ornamental purposes. 



Order LIII. SALICACE^. 



SALIX, L. (Willow.) Catkins with entire imbricated scales, sub- 

 cylindrical ; stamens 1 to 5 or more, with 1 to 2 little glands. Fertile 



flower, with a little gland at 

 base of ovary; pistil stalked 

 or sessile ; stigmas 2, short, 

 each occasionally 2 - lobed. 

 Leaves simple, alternate, 

 mostly stipulate, usually lan- 

 ceolate and serrate. Trees 

 and shrubs. A large genus ; 

 170 species. 



\. S. Babylonica, L. (Weep- 

 ing Willow.) Stem 50 to 70 feet 

 high, branching low and irregu- 

 larly ; young twigs slender and 

 weeping. Leaves exstipulate, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, finely ser- 

 rate, glabrous and glaucous be- 



Salix Babylonica (Weeping Willow). 



neath ; catkins appearing with the leaves. 

 Geography. — Western and southern Asia. 



Of this species there are three well marked varieties, as follows : — 

 Var, vulgaris. Young shoots pale-green, slender, with an annular or wing- 

 like twist iust above the axil of the leaf. Leaves furnished with large 

 stipules. Flowers appear in June. 



