186 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
is surmounted by a many-toothed circle or involucre, within 
which are four slender, lanceolate lobes, encircling the style 
with its long, deeply bifid, purpleor red stigma. Recent shoots 
slightly downy or powdery, as are the leaf-stalks. 
The leaves are very long, with from fifteen to twenty-one 
leaflets ; the leaf-stalk downy ; leaflets on a short petiole, nearly 
smooth, downy on the mid-rib above and beneath, ovate-lanceo- 
late, witha long acumination, inequilateral at base, lower ones 
cordate, middle ones rounded, upper ones acute below and serrate. 
Recent branchlets very downy ; fruit-stalk somewhat downy. 
Fruit globose, nearly smooth, or somewhat granulate, and of a 
sreenish yellow when mature, but soon turning to a dark brown. 
Within the spongy husk is a rough, deeply furrowed nut, round, 
but shghtly flattened. with a woody or bony covering. ‘The 
kernel, which nearly resembles that of an Englsh walnut m 
shape, 1s more oily, but, when carefully diied, of a rich and 
very agreeable taste. 
The wood of the black walnut is of a dark violet or purple 
color, becoming deeper and almost black with age. It 1s valu- 
able for its fineness of grain, tenacity, hardness, strength and 
durability. These qualities, together with its beauty and tough- 
ness, render it preferable to any other maternal for the stocks 
of muskets. The wood is beautifully shaded, and admits of a 
fine polish, and it is now very extensively used in the manufac- 
ture of tables, chairs, bureaus, bedsteads, and other cabinet 
work, and sometimes for book-shelves and the cornices and 
panels of rooms. Where abundant, it serves the same useful 
ends that hickory does with us. Posts made of it last for more 
than a quarter of a century. It is brought into the State in 
considerable quantities for the purposes above mentioned. More 
nearly than any other American tree, it resembles the Iuro- 
pean walnut, which, before the introduction of mahogany, was 
considered the most beautiful material known for the best kinds 
of furniture. 
Its erect stem and the breadth of shade from its abundaut, 
soft and luxurious foliage, recommend it as an ornamental 
shade tree. It is perfectly adapted to our climate. It 1s found 
growing naturally in small numbers, or solitary, in scoveral 
