Handbook of Teees of the IN'oetheen States and Canada. 129 



This curious and interesting Alcier is a 

 small tree, occasionally attaining the height 

 of 30 ft., with narrow top and slender branches 

 and smooth-barked trunk 5 or 6 in. in di- 

 ameter. It is ver}' distinct from all other 

 Alders in several respects. Its bright glossy 

 green foliage is in strong contrast to the dull 

 green of the other Alders, and its period of 

 blossoming, instead of being when the trees are 

 leafless in early spring, as with the other 

 species, is not until autumn. Then the efi'ect 

 of its golden catkins and handsome foliage 

 together is very pleasing and gives the tree a 

 peculiar ornamental value. Quite as different, 

 too, as this tree is from the other Alders in 

 its foliage and period of flowering is it in its 

 distribution. The Alders are generally species 

 of wide distribution, but this is limited to two 

 small areas, one near the sea coast on the 

 Delaware and Maryland peninsula and the 

 other far inland on the banks of the Red 

 River in Indian Territory. 



Its wood is light, a cubic foot weighing 



31.14 lbs., soft and with numerous large 



medullary rays. 



Leaves ovate-oblong to obovate, wedge-shaped 

 at base, usually acute or acuminate at apex, re- 

 motely and sharply serrate, scnrfy pubescent when 

 young but at maturity dark green and very lust- 

 rous, pale and minutely glandular punctate bo- 

 neatli. Flowers expanding in September, the 

 staminate aments iu racemes, lVj-2^ in. long 

 from the axils of the upper leaves : the pistillate 

 usually solitary from the axils ot lower leaves. 

 Fniil: strobile about % in. long with thinnish 

 crenate-lobed scales and wingless oblong-obovate 

 seeds liberated late in autumn of the year subse- 

 quent to fertilization.' 



1. For genus see p. 420. 



