1216 BETULA. [CLASS XXI, ORDER VII, 
1. C. Bet'ulus, Linn. (Fig. 1467.) Hornbeam. Scales of the fruit 
leafy, three lobed, the middle lobe oblong, serrated, or entire. 
English Botany, t. 2032.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 155.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 349.—Lindley, Synopsis p. 240. 
A low rigid tree, with smooth pale bark. Leaves ovate, acute, 
petiolated, about two inches long, doubly serrated on the margin, 
smooth, dark green above, pale beneath, with a prominent mid-rib 
and lateral veins, downy, especially when young. Stipules oblong, 
obtuse, smooth, soon falling away. Barren catkins long, pendulous, 
cylindrical, its scales roundish, acutely pointed, somewhat downy and 
ciliated on the margin. Fertile catkins lax, terminal, with ovate 
lanceolate scales, becoming when in fruit much enlarged, and of a 
leafy texture, three lobed, the lateral lobes short, the middle one ob- 
long, much larger, entire or serrated on the margin, the mid-rib pro- 
minent, and the lateral ones slender, netted. S/ruit at the base of 
the scales, an ovate angular nut, about the size of a grain of barley, 
green, single seeded. 
Habitat.—W oods and hedges in a poor tenacious soil. 
Tree; flowering in May. 
The Hornbeam, when standing alone, and in a situation and soil 
suited to it is by no means an unhandsome tree. The wood is white, 
tough, and hard, and is called Hornbeam wood, from its having been 
used for making the yokes for oxen. It is used by turners, for 
making various implements of husbandry, cogs of wheels, &¢ ; it is 
of a close hard texture, white, and burns well. 
GENUS XXV. BET’ULA.—Linn. Birch. 
Nat. Ord. Brtuni'nEx. RuicuH. 
Gen. Cuar. Barren flowers in cylindrical catkins, its scales three 
flowered, the middle one bearing stamens. Fertile flowers in 
cylindrical catkins, its scales three lobed, three flowered, mem- 
branous. Styles two. Ovary compressed, two celled, one of the 
cells abortive. Fruit a compressed one celled nut, with winged 
margins.—Name from betu, the Celtic name of the Birch. 
1. B. al'ba, Cinn. (Fig. 1468.) Common Birch. Leaves triangular, 
ovate acuminate, doubly serrated, smooth. 
English Botany, t. 2198.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 135.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 8347.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 228. 
f. pendula. Branches long, slender, drooping, warty. 
B. pendula, Roth. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 229. ‘ 
y- pubescens, Leaves somewhat heart-shaped, and often downy 
beneath. 
B. pubescens, Ehrh.—B. glutinosus, Fries.—Babington, British 
Botany, p. 282. 
