The Hickories 



A. Bud scales numerous, overlapping; husk of nut thick, not winged; 

 nut shell thick; kernel sweet, edible 



1. Bark exfoliating in long, loose plates, i. e., shaggy; shell whitish, 

 thick 



a 1 Leaflets usually 3 to 5; nut rounded at base Shagbark, p. 63. 

 a' 2 Leaflets usually 7 to 9; nut pointed at base 



Bignut Hickory, p. 65. 



2. Bark in close, rough ridges, not shaggy; foliage fragrant when 

 bruised; nut brown, 4-ridged, shell thick and brownish; kernel 

 small but edible Mockernut, p. 07. 



B. Bud scales few, edge to edge, sulphur colored; husk of nut thin and 

 winged; shell thin; kernel bitter, not edible Bitternut, p. 61. 



The Birches 



A. Bark creamy white or snow white, shiny, separating in thin, papery 

 layers; large tree Paper Birch, p. 73. 



B. Bark dark brown or bronze colored, very shiny, not separating in thin, 

 papery layers, small tree Black Birch, p. 75. 



The Oaks 



A. Leaves deeply cut or lobed 



1. Lobes of leaf acute, bristle-tipped; acorns mature at end of the 

 second season 



a 1 Lower surface of leaves more or less hairy 



b 1 Lobes of leaf usually 7; buds hoary; inner bark yellow; 

 large, common tree Black Oak, p. 79. 



b" Lobes of leaf usually 3; buds rusty; inner bark not yellow; 

 bark scales nearly square; small tree or shrub, not very 

 common Black Jack Oak, p. 85. 



a" Lower surface of leaves smooth or nearly so 



b l Acorn cup deep, top-shaped or cup-shaped, inclosing one- 

 third to one-half of acorn Scarlet Oak, p. 83. 



b 2 Acorn cup shallow, saucer-shaped, inclosing only the base 

 of the acorn 

 c 1 Upper leaf surface shiny; lowermost branches droop- 

 ing; acorn about one-half inch long; flattish 



Pin Oak, p. 81. 



c 2 Upper leaf surface usually dull; lowermost branches 

 not drooping; acorn about 1 inch long Red Oak, p. 77. 



2. Lobes of leaf rounded, not bristle-tipped; acorns maturing in the 

 first season 



a 1 Leaves cut nearly to the mid-rib by a pair of deep indenta- 

 tions near the middle of the leaf; acorn V 2 to \y% inch long, 

 deeply covered by a large, hoary, fringed cup Bur Oak, p. 91. 



a 2 Leaves not cut deeply by a pair of indentations nearly to the 

 mid-rib; acorn about •% inch long, about *4 covered by a thin, 

 hairy, warty cup White Oak, p. 87. 



B. Leaves not deeply cut or lobed 



1. Margin of leaf entire or wavy-toothed with rounded teeth 



a 1 Margin of leaf entire or merely wavy; acorn stalks about V2 

 inch long; acorn x k inch long Laurel Oak, p. 95. 



a 2 Margin of leaf wavy-toothed with prominent, rounded and 

 shallow teeth, very rarely lobed; acorn about 1 inch long, 

 borne on stalks 1 to 4 inches long Swamp White Oak, p. 89. 



2. Margin of leaf coarsely toothed with quite uniform, sharp-pointed 

 teeth; acorn stalk usually less than y 2 inch long Yellow Oak, p. 93. 



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