58 KEY AND FLORA 
forks of the veins and numerous black glands, 2-3 in. long, with 
slender petioles. Staminate catkins 3-4 in. long; pistillate catkins 
1-11 in. long, peduncles 2-bracted. Rich soil on hillsides, along 
streams, and near lakes and swamps, N. and N.E. The beautiful 
bark is much used by the Indians for canoes, for basket making, 
and for other purposes. 
Vv. ALNUS Hill 
Shrubs or small trees. Leaves petioled, serrate. Flower 
buds stalked, appearing the previous season; staminate cat- 
kins racemed, drooping; flowers 3-6 in the axil of each bract, 
subtended by 1-2 bractlets; perianth 4-parted; stamens 4; fila- 
ments short. Pistillate catkins erect; flowers 2-3 in the axil 
of each bract; perianth replaced by 2-4 minute bractlets which 
are adherent to the bract. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2. Fruit a 
winged or angled nut; bracts of the pistillate flowers some- 
what fleshy, persistent, becoming woody in fruit.* 
1. A. incana Moench. SpeckLED ALDER. A shrub 8-20 ft. high. 
Leaves broadly oval or ovate, rounded at the base, sharply (some- 
times doubly) serrate, white and usually downy beneath. Fruit 
round. Forming thickets by streams, very common N. 
2. A. rugosa Spreng. Smoorw Axper. A shrub or small tree with 
smooth bark. Leaves obovate, rounded or obtuse at the apex, acute 
at the base, sharply and minutely serrate, smooth above, downy be- 
neath, petioled; stipules oval, deciduous. Staminate catkins 2-4 in. 
long; fruiting catkins ovoid, short-peduncled. Fruit ovate, wingless. 
Banks of streams and borders of marshes, ranging far S. Leaves 
often persistent during the winter.* 
18. FAGACEZ. Brecu Famity 
Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined ; 
stipules deciduous. Flowers moneecious, the staminate in heads, 
or in drooping, spreading, or erect catkins ; calyx minute ; petals 
none; stamens 4-20. Pistillate flowers solitary or in small 
clusters, each flower subtended by more or less united bracts, 
which at maturity form a cup or bur; calyx minutely toothed; 
petals none; ovary 2—7-celled, but becoming 1-celled. Fruit a 
1-seeded nut.* 
