(HO 



American Linden Tilia Americana 



When growing in the open the linden is apt to develop 

 into a broad round-topped tree, but in the forest it is taller 

 and more slender, often attaining height of no feet and a 

 trunk diameter of 3 feet. The old bark is dark gray and 

 furrowed into flat ridges. In outline the leaf-blades are oval 

 or roundish, sharp-pointed at the tip and more or less un- 

 equally heart-shaped at the base. The blade is from 5 to 8 

 inches long and about ^ as wide. 



The stalk of the flower-clusters in the linden tree are 

 peculiar, and make it comparatively easy to distinguish it 

 from all the other trees of the Hudson Valley. To the lower 

 third or half of the flower-stalk is fastened a leaf-like 

 organ which is from 5 to 8 inches long and about J /s as wide. 

 These leaf-like flower-bearing organs occur indiscriminately 

 mixed with the true leaves. There are from 5 to 20 flowers 

 in a cluster, and they subsequently develop into the ovoid 

 fruit containing a good sized seed. 



The tree grows naturally from New Brunswick to Georgia 

 and westward. It is common all along the Hudson. The 

 soft wood is largely used for furniture, carriages, and 

 woodenware; it is also a productive source of wood-pulp for 

 paper manufacture. (Plate 148.) 



Hercules Club Aralia spinosa 



In the south this plant often becomes a tree 25 feet or more 

 in height. Towards its northernmost limit it becomes in- 

 creasingly scarce. A few small trees have been found in the 

 extreme southern part of the Hudson Valley, which may, 

 however, have escaped from cultivation. All the woody 

 parts of the plant are covered with short stout prickles. 

 There is some popular misunderstanding of the leaves of the 

 Hercules club. The leaf is very large and composed of a 

 great many leaflets, which are attached to leaf-stalks that are 

 themselves joined to the main or central leaf-stalk. The 

 whole leaf is from 2 to 4 feet long; the leaflets scarcely more 

 than 3 or 4 inches long, oval, thick and sharp-pointed. The 



