52 FOUNDATIONS OF' BOTANY 



spike-like, each pair of flowers subtended by a deciduous 

 bract, and each flower by a persistent bractlet which becomes 

 large and leaf-like in fruit ; ovary 2-celled, 2-ovuled ; stigmas 

 2, thread-like. Fruit a small angular nut.* 



1. C. caroliniana, Walt. Hornbeam. A small tree witli smooth 

 and close gray bark ; twigs slender. Leaves ovate-oblong, acute or 

 taper-pointed, sharply and doubly serrate, the straight veins terminat- 

 ing in the larger serrations ; downy when young and soon becoming 

 smooth. Staminate catkins 1-1^ in. long. Pistillate catkins long- 

 peduncled, 8-12-flowered ; bractlets becoming nearly 1 in. long, cut- 

 toothed, the middle tooth much longer than the others. In rich, 

 moist woods. Often known as " blue beech " and " iron-wood." * 



n. OSTRYA, Micheli. 



Small trees with gray bark and very hard wood. Leaves 

 open and concave in the bud and somewhat plaited on the 

 veins. Staminate flowers on slender, drooping catkins, sessile 

 at the end of the growth of the previous season ; stamens 

 3-12, subtended by a bract, filaments forked, anthers hairy. 

 Pistillate flowers surrounded by a tubular bractlet which 

 becomes large and bladder-like at maturity. Fruit a small, 

 pointed, smooth nut ; mature catkins hop-like.* 



0. virginica, Willd. A small tree with brownish, furrowed bark ; 

 leaves ovate, acute, doubly serrate, often inequilateral at the base, 

 short-petioled ; staminate and fertile catkins 2-3 in. long. In rich 

 woods. Often known as "iron-wood" and "lever-wood."* 



m. CORYLUS, Toum. 



Shrubs with prominently veined, cut-toothed leaves which 

 are folded lengthwise in the bud. Flowers expanding before 

 the leaves. Staminate flowers in slender, drooping catkins ; 

 stamens 8, anthers 1-celled. Fertile flowers several in a 

 cluster or in very short catkins at the ends of the twigs of 

 the season ; ovary incompletely 2-celled, style short, stigmas 

 2, bractlets 2, becoming enlarged and enclosing the single 

 bony nut at maturity.* 



1. C. americana, Walt. Hazelnut. A shrub 2-5 ft. high, young 

 twigs and petioles covered with brownish, stiff hairs. Leaves not 



