16 



AMERICAN MEDICINAL BARKS. 



Habitat and range. — The ironwood is indigenous to this country, and is com- 

 mon in rich woods in Canada and the eastern United States, and westward to 

 Minnesota and Texas. It is occasionally cultivated. 



Description of tree. — This usually slender tree attains its greatest height, 

 sometimes 50 feet, in the western part of its range, while farther eastward it 

 grows only about 15 to 20 feet high. The brownish trunk is finely furrowed in 

 short, lengthwise lines. The wood is very hard and heavy, and is employed in 

 making farm implements. 



The leaves somewhat resemble those of the sweet birch, to which family 



(Betulacea?) this tree belongs, but they are rough to the touch, instead of 



smooth and shining like the birch leaf. 



They are from 21 to 4 inches in length 

 and about an inch or more in width, 

 oval or oblong-oval in shape, long 

 pointed at the apex, and rounded at 

 the base, and with margins very sharply 

 double toothed. The upper surface of 

 the leaves is usually smooth, except 

 sometimes slightly hairy on the veins, 

 while the lower surface is hairy or 

 even woolly. (Fig. 7.) The green, in- 

 conspicuous flowers are borne in cat- 

 kins, male and female, and are pro- 

 duced from April to May. The male 

 catkins are cylindrical, and about 1J 

 to 3 inches long, while the female cat- 

 kins are short, maturing in July or 

 August into large fruiting cones from 

 IS to about 2i inches in length, and 

 very much resembling hops (fig. 7). 



Description of wood and lurk. — The 

 inner wood and the bark, which are 

 bitter, are the parts employed in med- 

 icine. The wood is white, very hard and strong, and occurs in pieces a few 

 inches in length and of varying thickness. The bark as found in the stores is in 

 flat pieces about 2 inches in length ; the outside grayish green with thin, short 

 scales ; the inside brown, marked with long fine lines or ridges, and generally 

 with considerable of the woody portion adhering. There is practically no odor. 

 Prices and uses. — At present the price paid to collectors runs from about 5 to 

 6 cents a pound. 



Ironwood is used for its tonic, alterative, and antiperiodic properties. 



Fig. 7. — Ironwood (Ostrya 

 leaves and fruit 



virginicma). 



SWEET BIRCH. 



Betula tenia L. 



Other common names. — Black birch, cherry-birch, spice-birch, river-birch, 

 mahogany-birch, mountain-mahogany. 



Habitat and range.- — This indigenous tree occurs in rich woodlands from 

 Newfoundland to Ontario, south to Florida and Tennessee. 



Description of tree. — Sweet birch, which somewhat resembles the cherry tree, 

 attains a height of from 50 to 80 feet, and has brownish red, sweet, and aro- 

 matic bark. The bark of the trunk of older trees is rather thick, as much as 

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