125 



BEECH— FAGUS, (Tourn.) L. 



i This genus comprises trees with a close, smooth and grayish bark, 

 jl light horizontal spray, simple straight-veined leaves, hard and dif- 

 jise-porous wood and long, slender, conical, sharp-pointed buds. The 

 lembers of this genus are limited to the northern hemisphere with 

 Qly 1 native representative in America and 4 in the eastern hemis- 

 here. One of the latter is widely distributed in Europe and south- 

 estern Asia. It is the Beech which figures in ancient literature 

 nd is now known as the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). 

 his species is now planted extensively for ornamental purposes in 

 .merica, especially 3 varieties of it, with purple leaves, cut leaves, 

 nd pendant branches respectively. The wood of the European 

 leech is used extensively in France and Germany for lumber and fuel 

 nd the nuts are used to feed swine. The nuts also yield a valuable 

 il. The other species of the eastern hemisphere are found in east- 

 m Asia. The description of the sole native American representa- 

 ve, found on page 123, will suffice for the genus. 



CHESTNUT— CASTANEA, (Tourn.) Hill. 



This genus comprises 5 species of trees and shrubs with furrowed 

 ark, round branchlets without terminal buds, ring-porous wood 

 ^hich is rich in tannin and durable in contact with the soil. The 

 javes are simple, alternate, stiff, sharp-toothed, and straight-veined, 

 'he members of this genus blossom in summer and mature their 

 puit the same autumn at about the time when the first frost ap- 

 ears. The fruit consists of a large spiny bur in which 1-5 nuts are 

 orne. The nuts are highly prized as food. Three species of Chest- 

 uts are cultivated in this country for their fruit, the American, the 

 ]uropean, and the Japanese. The Chestnuts are confined to the 

 orthern hemisphere, both eastern and western. No representatives 

 f this genus are at present found in the western part of North 

 .merica, but records show that the Chestnut was at one time indi- 

 enous to this region. Three species are nal^ve in eastern North 

 America, 2 of which attain tree-size, while 1 (Castanea alnifolia, • 

 lutt.) seldom exceeds 3 ft. in height and is found in the south 

 Atlantic states. The subjoined key will aid in identifying the two 

 Decies native to Pennsylvania. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Page. 



I. Large trees; leaves oblons-lanceolaie, smooth and green on both sides; nuts 1-5, 

 usually 2-3, in a bur; buds k of an inch long covered by smooth chestnut-brown 



, s^^ales C. dentata 126 



I-. Small trees or shiubs; leaves oblong, whitish downy beneath; nuts rounded, usually 



one in a bur; buds J of an inch long, covered by scurfy red scales C. pumila 127 



