268 



THE HORNBEAM. 



un alternate sides ol- the twig. About April they are found as 

 cylindrical catkins, Irom i to i^ inches long, hanging from the 

 tree. Each ot" the clusters of stamens which compose them is covered, 

 and completely hidden, by a sharply pointed triangular cap. These 

 caps are ot a pale yellowish-green with a curiously metallic surface 

 and a tinge of red at the tip. When at the end of April the catkins 

 reach their full length (about two inches), the little caps spread out 

 and display the red stamens, which soon turn yellow and give a 

 softer look to the whole catkin. 



VOUNT, LF,AVi:S AND MALI-. CATKINS. 



