RUTACE/AZ—RUE FAMILY 
WAFER ASH. HOP-TREE 
Ptélea trifolidta. 
Ptelea, of Greek derivation, is the classical name of the elm 
tree, which was transferred by Linnzeus to this genus, because 
of the resemblance of its fruit to that of the elm. 77//oliata re- 
fers to the three-parted compound leaf. 
A small tree, sometimes reaching the height of twenty feet, often 
a shrub of a few spreading stems. It makes part of the under- 
growth of the forests of the Mississippi valley, and is found most 
frequently on rocky slopes. Has thick fleshy roots, flourishes in 
rich, rather moist soil. Its juices are acrid ana bitter and the bark 
possesses tonic properties. 
Bark.—Dark reddish brown, smooth. Branchlets dark reddish 
brown, shining, covered with small excrescences. Bitter and ill- 
scented. 
Wood.—Yellow brown; heavy, hard, close-grained, satiny. Sp. 
gr., 0.83193 weight of cu. ft., 51.84 lbs. 
Winter Buds.—Small, depressed, round, pale, covered with sil- 
very hairs. 
Leaves.—Alternate, compound, three - parted, dotted with oil 
glands. Leaflets sessile, ovate or oblong, three to five inches long, 
by two to three broad, pointed at base, entire or serrate, gradually 
pointed at apex. Feather-veined, midrib and primary veins prom- 
inent. They come out of the bud conduplicate, very downy, when 
full grown are dark green, shining above, paler green beneath. In 
autumn they turn a rusty yellow. Petioles stout, two and a half to 
three inches long, base enlarged. Stipules wanting. 
Flowers.—May, June. Polygamo-moncecious, greenish white. 
Fertile and sterile flowers produced together in terminal, spreading, 
compound cymes ; the sterile being usually fewer, and falling after 
the anther cells mature. Pcdicels downy. 
Calyx.—F our or five-parted, downy, imbricate in the bud. 
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