Ordbk 119.— the MASTWORTS, 279 



b Involucre none. Anthers 4-valved. Leaves lobed. Sassafras, Sas'safbas. 1 

 b Involucre i-leaved. Anthers 2-valved'. Shrubs. Spice-hush. Ben'zoin. 



b Involucre 4-lea;ved. Anthers 4-valved. Shrubs. S. Pond-spice. Tetean'theea. 



SASSAFRAS. Sassafras. 

 Flowers diceoious, 6-parted, regular. Stamens 9. Trees with decidu- 

 ous leaves, expanding after the clusters of yellow flowers. 

 S. officina'le. Common S. Leaves of two forms, ovate and entire, or 3-lobed and 

 acute at base. Tree aromatic, 10-30f. high. 



Ordee CXIX. CTJPULIFERiE. The Mastworts. 



Frees or shrubs, with alternate, simple leaves, and deciduous stipules ; 

 flowers moncecious, the sterile in aments, which are racemed or head-like ; 

 stameTis in the sterile flowers, 6 to 20,i.on the base of the calyx ; 

 ovarp in the fertile flowers with several cells and ovules, hut hecoming in 

 fruit a 1-seeded nut surrounded by an involucre (cup, burr, or sac). 



Analysis of the Oenera. 



% Sterile flowers in aments, fertile flowers solitary or 2 or 8 together 2 



§ Sterile flowers and fertile also in aments, the latter loose and large c 



2 Involucre 1-flowered, cup-li^e, composed of many little scales a 



2 Involucre 2 or 3-flowered, composed of few large valves b 



a Sterile aments slender, calyx 5-oleft, stamens 5 or 10. Fertile flowers, con- 

 sisting of an ovary-sitting in a scaly cup, becoming, in fruit, an acorn, 1- 

 oelled, 1-seeded. A noble genus of trees (rarely shrubs), always known by 

 their peculiar fruit, called acorm. The timber is of great value, especially 

 in ship-building. In the Class Book of Botany, 23 species are described. 

 (See Figs. 82-34, 267.) Oak. Queeous. 



b Involucre of the fruit and fertile flowers a burr with 4 valves. Sterile aments 

 slender, each flower with' 5-15 stamens; 3 fertile flowers in each involucre, 

 which is beset with slender prickles. We have two species, one a tree, the 

 other a shrub. Timber excellent. The fruit is sweet and nutritious. (See 

 Fig. 277.) Chestnut. Casta'hea. 



b Involucre of the fruy; a burr with 4 valves. Sterile aments :^ead-like, sus- 

 pended by a slender stalk. Calyx 6-oIeft. Two flowers in each burr, which 

 is covered by weak spines. Nuts sharply 3-angled. They are tall, valua- 

 ble forest-trees. -S«««A. Faous. 



b Involucre a sac, longer than the nuts, torn at the top. Sterile flowers in a 

 slender ament. Shrubs. Usually but one flower or nut in each involucre. 



Saul. Coe'yltis. 



