185 
Description.—Leaves 1} to 3 inches long, ovate (sometimes broader above), or 
oblong-ovate, blunt or with sharp point, wedge-shaped at the base; margin with 
small teeth of two sizes; smooth (or nearly so) above, more or less downy on the 
under surface. Catkins bearing the seed (nutlets) oblong, 4 to @ inch long; seeds 
small (;'5 of an inch long), ovate, very broad at upper end, and with a wing-like, 
thickened margin. 
76.—Alnus oblongifolia, Torrey. 
One of the largest deciduous trees of the southern Rocky Mountain 
region, growing abundantly on nearly all the mountain streams and 
very close to the water. It occurs in the ranges of southern Arizona, 
extending to New Mexico as far as the Rio Grande (southward into 
Mexico, and also in ranges of southern California). Forty to 60 feet, 
with a trunk from 2 to 5 feet in diameter. The wood is light, soft, and. 
brittle, decaying rapidly, and of little value except for fuel. 
Description.—Leaves commonly 1} to 3} inches long, and 1 to 2 inches wide (excep- 
tionally 4 to 6 inches long), lance- to oblong-lance-shaped (sometimes ovate), apex 
acute or with a long narrow point; base wedge-shaned ; margin (often rather coarsely ) 
ent with glandular teeth of two sizes; slightly hairy below, especially on the veins, 
smooth above; leaf-stems } to } inch long. Fertile catkins ovate-oblong, 4 to } inch 
long; seeds (nutlets) ovate—very broad above, about 4'y of an inch long, with a nar- 
row wing-like margin. A handsome tree. 
: —— * Prt * < : 
= 
77.—SPECKLED ALDER. HOARY ALDER. BLACK ALDER. (Alnus 
incana, Willdenow.) 
A shrub or small tree, 15 to 20 feet in height, with a slender trunk, 
seldom more than 5 to 6 inches in diameter. It occurs along water- 
courses and on the borders of swamps in the Rocky Mountain region, 
ranging from Colorado to Montana and northward (extending eastward 
to the Atlantic; also in Europe. A well-marked variety of this species 
(virescens, Watson) is found in the mountain ranges of the Pacifie coast 
from southern California to British Columbia and northward). The 
wood is light and soft, and is used quite extensively for fuel in brick- 
making. 
Description.—Leaves 2 to 4 (exceptionally 5) inches long, and 1} to 3} inches wide, 
oval to broadly ovate, with rounded or heart-shaped base and more or less pointed 
apex; margin finely toothed, or with coarse teeth, which are themselves cut with 
smaller teeth; young leaves velvety on both sides, but with age becoming pale, and 
retaining the pubescence only (or chietly) on the under surface (variety virescens has 
leaves smooth on both sides) ; leaf-stems and recent shoot rusty downy. Fertile cat- 
kins ovate, 4 to finch long; fruit flat, orbicular, with thin margin mostly on two, 
sides. Bark of brances reddish or grayish brown, with numerous light-colored dots. 
SALICINEA: WILLOW FAMILY.* 
78.—Salix amygdaloides, Anderson. 
A small tree, found throughout the Rocky Mountain region on the 
banks of streams (also eastward through the northern United States) ; 

“See Willows, in list of shrubs, page 196. 

