820 
MONOECIA POLYANDRIA. 
1. OCCIDENTALS. Lin. 
P. foliis quinquan- 
gularibus, obsolete lo- 
batis, dentatis, subtus 
pubescentibus; ramulis 
albeseentibus. 
Leaves 5-angled, ob- 
scurely lobed, toothed, 
pubescent underneath; 
branches nearly white. 
Sp. pi. 4. p. 474. Walt. p. 237* Mich. 2. p. 163. Pursh, 2. p. 635. 
Nutt. 2. p. 219. 
Icon. Mich. arb. for 3. p. 
This is one of the largest trees of the American forest. In the low coun- 
try of Carolina, where it is rather scarce, it rarely exceeds 3 feet in diameter 
by 70—80 in height; but in the fertile vallies of the Ohio, it is said by Mi- 
chaux to have been found from 13 to 1 6 feet in diameter, and frequently with 
an undivided trunk of from 60 to 70 feet in height. Leaves alternate on 
long petioles, cordate, nearly round, acuminate, angled and toothed with the 
nerves almost tomentose. Aments axillary on long peduncles, globular. 
Seed forming a compact ball on a spherical receptacle. 
This tree is generally distinguished in this country as the Sycamore; to 
the Northward it is commonly called the Button Wood. Its wood is soft, 
and when exposed to the weather not durable, and is excelled in many res- 
pects by so many of our other forest trees, that it is only as an ornamental 
tree that it is now valued. 
Grows in damp fertile soils. 
Flowers March— April. 
LIQUIDAMBAR. Gen. Pl. 
Masculi. Amentum 
conicum, involucro 4- 
phyllo cinctum. Calyx 
0. Corolla 0. Fila- 
menta numerosa. 
Foeminei. Amentum 
globosum, involucro 4- 
phyllo cinctum. Calyx 
l-phyllus, urceolatus. 
Corolla 0. Styli 2. 
Capsulce 2, calyce basi 
Sterile Jlorets. A- 
ment conical, surround- 
ed by a 4-leaved invo- 
lucrum. Calyx 0. Co- 
rolla 0. Filaments nu- 
merous. 
Fertile Jlorets. A- 
ment globular, sur- 
rounded by a 4-leaved 
involucrum. Calyx 1- 
leaved, urceolate. Co- 
