185 



Descrijjtion.— heaves li 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, i to | inch long ; seeds 

 small (i^ of an incH long), ovate, very broad at upper end, and with a wing-like, 

 thickened margin. 



76. — Alnvs ohlongifoUa^ 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 soutlieru Arizona, 

 extending to New Mexico as far as the Rio Grande (southward into 

 Mexico, and also in ranges of southern California). Forty to GO feet, 

 with a trunk from 2 to 3 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-shaped ; margin (often rather coarsely) 

 cut with glandular teeth of two sizes ; slightly hairy below, especially on the veins, 

 smooth above ; leaf-stems J to i inch long. Fertile catkins ovate-oblong, i to f inch 

 long ; seeds (nutlets) ovate— very broad above, about -^^o of an inch long, with a nar- 

 row wing-like margin. A handsome tree. 



77.— Speckled Alder. Hoary Alder. Black Alder. {Alnm 



incana^ Willdenow.) 



A shrub or small tree, 15 to 20 feet in height, with a slender trunk? 

 seldom more than 3 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 Pacific coast 

 from southern California to British Columbia and northward). The 

 wood is light and soft, and is used quite extensively for fuel i\i 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 chiefly) on the under surface (variety virescens has 

 leaves smooth on both sides) ; leaf-stems and recent shoot rusty downy. Fertile cat- 

 kins ovate, i to |- inch long; fruit flat, orbicular, with thin margin mostly on two. 

 sides. Bark of brances reddish or grayish brown, with numerous light-colored dots., 



SALICINE^ : WILLOW FAMILY.* 



78. — Salix amygdaloideSj 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 19G. 



