2016

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

Synonymes. Carpinus virginikna Abb. Ins., 2. p. 151., Lam. Encyc., 1. p. 700., Willd. Arb., 53.,Pluk. Aim., I. 1.156. f. 1., N. Du Ham., 2. p.200.; Cirpinus O'strya virginiina Mich*. FI. Bor.Amer., 2. p. 202.; C. O'strya Michx. N. Amer. Syl., 3. p. 30.; Iron Wood, Lever Wood, Amer. ; Boisrlur, Illinois.

Engravings. Abb. Ins., 2. t. 75. ; Pluk. Aim., t. 156. f. 1.; ? N. Amer. Syl., 3. p. 109.; and ourfig. 1940.

Spec. Char., Sfc. Strobiles ovate-oblong, erect. Leaves ovate-oblong, acu-minate. Buds acute. ( Willd .) A tree, from 15 ft. to 40 ft. high; a nativeof North America. Introduced in 1692. The Virginian hop hornbeam, oriron wood, generally forms a tree about 30 ft. high, growing more rapidlythan O. vulgaris, and differing from that species, according to Willdenowand Pursh, chiefly in the position of its female catkins, which are upright,instead of being pendulous. The tree, accordingto Michaux, is easily known, in winter, by itssmooth greyish bark, which is finely divided, anddetached in strips of not more than a line in breadth.

The wood is perfectly white, compact, fine-grained,and very heavy. The concentrical layers are closelycompressed, and their number, in a trunk only4 in. or 5 in. diameter, evinces the length of timewhich it requires for the tree to attain even thisinconsiderable size. The leaves are alternate,oval-acuminate, and finely and unequally denticu-lated. “ The small, hard, triangular seed is con-tained in a species of oval inflated bladder, covered,at the age of maturity, with a fine down, whichcauses a violent irritation of the skin if carelessly handled.” (Michx.) Theiron wood is distributed through all North America, from New Brunswickto Florida. It is, however, never found in masses, but is loosely dis-seminated through the forests, and only found in cool, fertile, shadedsituations ; and Michaux adds that he never saw it more vigorous thanin Genessee, near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. In consequence of thesmall size of the tree, the wood is but little used; though Michaux in-forms us that levers are made of it, with which the trees are raised thathave been felled in clearing the ground, and transported to the pile wherethey are to be burned. “ Near New York, brooms and scrubbing-brushesare made of it, by shredding the end of a stick of suitable dimensions.”It was introduced into France by the elder Michaux; and some trees ofit, planted on the estate of Du Hamel, at Monceau, have ripened seed,and sown themselves; so that there is now a young wood of it growing up.The Virginian hop hornbeam was introduced into England by BishopCompton, in 1692 j and there are plants of it in some collections, as, forexample, in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, and at Messrs. Loddiges’s.The tree bears so close a resemblance to the European hop hornbeam,that, in all probability, it is not specifically different, though it appears tobe somewhat more tender.

Mzmm

Genus VI.

Lui

CO RYLUS L. The Hazel. Lin. Syst. Monoe'cia Polyandria.

Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 1074.; Reich, 1172.; Schreb., 1450. ; Gaertn., t. 89. ; Tourn., 347.;

Malp., 220,221, 224.; Juss., 410.; N. Du Ham,, 4. p. 17.; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 470.

Synonymes. Coudrier, Fr. j Haselnuss, Ger.

Derivation. According to some, from korus , a helmet; the fruit, with its involucre, appearing asif covered witli a bonnet; and, according to others, from the Greek word karuon, a nut.

Description, §c. Deciduous shrubs or low trees, natives of Europe, Asia,and America; one of them, C. Colurna, a timber tree of middle size.