THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
willrnv. tlie two kinds are on separate plants : and in others, 
like •' ' - - '^c ])istillate flowers are clustered at the 
]l - iment. The pistillate flowers in near- 
1 i fit a tendency to be grouped in very 
si -Dikes. The staminate flowers are the 
one- t. :t: i.>r.,.>; . ! i ni the real catkins. If one will examine 
a single scale from one of these catkins he will find that it 
bears several stamens 011 the upi)er surface. The numl)er 
and arrangement varies with the si>ecies. Imt in all, the 
stamens greatly ov\tnuni1)er the pistils and a great amount 
of pollen is produced. This abundant pollen is necessary 
to ensure pollination, since the wind is depended upon as a 
carrier. For the same re.xson most of the si)ecies bloom 
early in the year, before the leaves have apf^eared to pre\'ent 
free circulation of the ixdlen-laden air. 
The amentacevms trees are not abundant in the trn]>ics. 
but the bulk of our arl)orescent tiora is made up from this 
group. Among the plants that l)elong to it are the oaks, 
willows, birclies. ]x>plars. alders, hazels. Iiickories. walnuts, 
iron woods, chestnuts, beeches. bay-1>erries and sweet- fern. 
The various groups may l>e distinguished by their blos- 
soms, but other characters are often necessar\- for the iden- 
tification of the individual species: in fact, the willows are 
among the most ditticult of plants to name satisfactorily. 
The oaks an<l various oiiers are l>est identified from their 
fmits. hut most of them can also be recognized by their 
leaves and bark alone. 
OUR VIBURNUMS. 
OR. WWf. U [IIT.\IA.\- B.XIL 
ay T wa-^ mucli surprised ' 
