MONOECIA POLYANDR1A. 
619 
serratis, strobilis ob- 
longo-ovatis, ereclis, 
geminis, acutis. 
qually serrate, strobi- 
lus oblong-ovate, erect, 
acute, generally in 
pairs. 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 469. Pursh, 2. p. 623. Nutt. 2. p. 219- 
Carpinus Ostrya, Mich. 2. p. 202. 
A small tree 20 — 30 feet in height and 8—12 inches in diameter, some-* 
times though rarely exceeding these dimensions. Leaves on very short pe- 
tioles, oval-lanceolate, acuminate, cordate at base, finely serrate, a little-pu- 
bescent along the veins and particularly in the axils. Aments terminal and 
axillary. Fertile ament erect, composed of ovate inflated capsules, very 
hairy at base, imbricate and containing one seed. 
The grain of this wood is close and so compact and hard, that it has ac- 
quired the popular name of Iron Wood. It is well adapted for cogs in Mill 
wheels, and for many other uses where a strong fine-grained wood is requir- 
ed. But it is so much less common than the Dog Wood, (Cornus Florida) 
that it appears to Be but little used or sought after. 
Grows in fertile soils. 
Flowers March — April. 
PLATANUS. Gen. Pl. 1451. 
Masculi. Amentum 
globosum. Calyx 0. 
Corolla vix manifesta. 
Antlierce filamentuin 
circumnatae. 
Foeminei. Amentum 
globosum. Calyx po- 
lyphyllus. Corolla 0. 
Styli stigmate recurvo. 
Capsula subclavata, I - 
sperm a, stylo mucrona- 
ta, basi papposa. 
Sterile Jlorets. A- 
ment globular. Calyx 
0. Corolla scarcely 
manifest. Anthers 
growing round the fila- 
ment. 
Fertile Jlorets. A- 
ment globular. Calyx 
many leaved. Corolla 
0. Styles with a re- 
curved stigma. Cap- 
sule somewhat clavate, 
1 -seeded, pointed with 
the style, hairy at base. 
