BIRCH FAMILY 
upon the tree stiff and rigid all winter long, but respond to 
the first warmth of returning spring, 
The pistillate blossoms are little cone-like catkins produce | 
in the spring. When these mature they open to let the seeds 
fall but themselves remain upon the tree all winter and 
frequently through the second summer. 
HOP HORNBEAM. IRONWOOD 
Ostrva virginiana. 
Small, slender tree. Usually found on dry gravelly slopes and 
ridges, often in the shade of oaks, maples, and other larger trees. 
In Arkansas and Texas it reaches the height of fifty feet; ranges 
throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, 
Bark.—Grayish brown, furrowed and broken into narrow oblong 
scales. Branchlets slender, tough, at first pale green, later dark red 
brown. Rich in tannic acid. 
MWood.—Light brown tinged with red, sapwood nearly white; 
heavy, tough, exceedingly close-grained, very strong and hard. 
Durable in contact with the soil and will take a fine polish. Used 
for small articles like levers, handles of tools, mallets. Sp. gr., 
0.8284; weight of cu. ft., 51.62 lbs. 
Leaf Puds.—Ovate, acute, light chestnut brown, one-fourth of an 
inch long. Inner scales enlarge when spring growth begins. No 
terminal bud is formed. 
Leaves.—Alternate, oblong-ovate, three to five inches long, 
rounded, cordate, or wedge-shape, or sometimes unequal at the 
base, sharply and 
doubly serrate, 
acute or acuminate ; 
feather-veined, mid- 
rib and veins prom- 
inent on the undei 
side. They come 
from the bud light 
bronze green, 
Branch of Hop Hornbeam, Ostryva virgimana, Showing the smooth above and 
Staminate Aments as they Appear in Winter. hairy beneath; when 
full grown are thin, 
extremely tough, dull dark yellow green above, pale yellow green 
beneath. In autumn they turn a clear yellow.  Petiole short, slen- 
der, hairy ; stipules caducous. 
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