AMENTIFERA. 143 
and compactness, and more liable to split. From the leaves somewhat resembling 
those of the hazel, Gerard tells us that in Hampshire “ it is commonly called the witch 
hasell. Old men affirm,” he adds, “that, when long bows were in use, there were 
very many,_made of the wood of this tree, for which purpose it is mentioned in the 
English statutes by this name of witch hasell.”” According to Gerard, the wych elm 
was applied to various uses in ancient times. It was not only made into bows, but its 
bark, which is very tough, was made into ropes. The wood was also considered good 
for the naves of carts, and for many of the purposes to which that of the common elm 
is now applied. Modern artificers, however, find that, when the latter can be obtained, 
it is better and more durable. The name of the tree appears to have been derived 
from the former use of elm wood for making the troughs and pipes by which the brine 
was conveyed from the salt springs or wyches: it was, in ancient times, often given to 
the common elm as well as to this species. Hither from some strange association of 
ideas resulting from the name, or from some forgotten superstition, the wych elm had 
the credit of being a powerful charm against witcheraft and evil spirits. In some parts 
of the midland counties it is still the practice to put a small piece of wood in every 
churn to ensure the safety of the milk from fairies and witches, who might otherwise 
preyent its conversion into butter ; and in many places the peasantry place the same 
confidence in its protecting powers as the Highlanders did in those of the rowan tree. 
Mr. Johnson suggests that the superstition is of Scandinavian origin, for the tree seems 
to have had some sacred character assigned it by the old Norsemen, the floating 
log that was converted by the sons of Bore into the first woman having been according 
to the “Edda” of elm. It is very rarely that this species of elm produces suckers, 
but it roots readily from layers. The best mode of propagating it, however, is from 
seeds, which ought to be gathered by the hand before they drop, and directly they 
are ripe. 
ORDER LXXIL—AMENTIFERA. 
Trees or shrubs, mostly with alternate leaves, and foliaceous and 
persistent or scarious and deciduous stipules. Flowers, or at least the 
male ones, in catkins, always unisexual, diecious or monecious. 
Perianth in the male flowers of 1 or more small floral-scales, though 
perhaps in all cases this supposed perianth is formed of bracts: stamens 
definite, often 2 within each catkin scale. Female catkins like the 
male, or reduced to 1 or few terminal flowers, with the lower catkin 
scales empty, and forming an involucre round it: perianth adnate to the 
ovary or of 1 or 2 small scales or free and cuplike: ovary 1 or more 
celled, with the styles 2 or more. Fruit 1-celled and 2-valved, with 
several seeds, or 1-celled, 1-seeded, and indehiscent; in the latter case 
sometimes surrounded with an involucre of bracts. 
Sus-Orper.—CU PULIFER. 
Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined. Stipules deciduous. 
Flowers monecious. Male flowers in cylindrical or oblong catkins, 
