ORDER 119—THE MASTWORTS. 279 
b Involucre none. Anthers 4-valved. Leaves lobed. Sassafras. Sas’saFras. 1 
b Involucre 4 leaved. Anthers 2-valved. Shrubs. Spice-bush. Byn’zorn. 
b Involucre 4-leaved. Anthers 4-valved. Shrubs. 8. Pond-spice. TeTRan’THERA. 
SASSAFRAS. Sassafras. 
Flowers diccious, 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 8-lobed and 
acute at base. Tree aromatic, 10-30f. high. 
Orver CXIX. CUPULIFERA. The Mastworts. 
Trees or shrubs, with alternate, simple Jeaves, and deciduous stipules ; 
Jlowers moncecious, the sterile in aments, which are racemed or head-like ; 
stamens in the sterile flowers, 6 to 20, on the base of the calyx; 
ovary in the fertile flowers with several cells and ovules, but becoming in 
Fruit a 1-seeded nut surrounded by an involucre (cup, burr, or sac). 
Analysis of the Genera. 
§ Sterile flowers in aments, fertile flowers solitary or 2 or 8 together....2 
§ Sterile fluwers and fertile also in aments, the latter loose and large....6 
2 Involucre 1-flowered, cup-like, composed of many little scales....a 
2 Involucre 2 or 8-flowered, composed of few large valves....b 
a Sterile aments slender, calyx 5-cleft, stamens 5 or 10. Fertile flowers, con- 
sisting of an ovary sitting in a sealy cup, becoming, in fruit, an acorn, 1- 
celled, 1-seeded. A noble genus of trees (rarely shrubs), always known by 
their peculiar fruit, called acorns. 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, Quercus, 
b Involuere of the fruit and fertile flowers a burr with 4 valves. Sterile aments 
slender, each flower with 5-15 stamens; 8 fertile flowers in each involucre, 
which is beset with slender prickles. We have two species, one a tree, the 
othera shrub. Timber excellent. The fruit is sweet and nutritious. (See 
Fig. 277.) Chestnut. Casra’NEA, 
> Involucre of the fruit a burr with 4 valves. Sterile aments head-like, sus- 
pended by aslender stalk. Calyx 6-cleft. Two flowers in each burr, which 
is covered by weak spines. Nuts sharply 3-angled. They are tall, valna- 
ble forest-trees, Beech. Faeus, 
b Involuere 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. 
Hazel, Cor’¥1us, 
