cc. Buds about 1 inch long, merely puberulous; outer

bud-scales persistent until spring; twigs orange colored; fruit 1-3/4-2-1/2 inches long. _C. laciniosa_, p. 71.

bb. Twigs tending to be glabrous; buds glabrous or nearly so. _C. ovata_, p. 69.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Shagbark Hickory. Shellbark Hickory+

_Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria ovata (Mill.) Britt._] [_Carya alba Nutt_.]

HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high, with a slender, columnar trunk 1-2 feet in diameter; forming a narrow, somewhat open crown of stout, slightly spreading limbs and stout branchlets.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-14 inches long. Leaflets usually 5, the upper 5-7 inches long and 2-3 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; obovate to oblong-lanceolate; finely serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath and glabrous or puberulous. Petioles stout, smooth or hairy. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate hairy, greenish, in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, on a common peduncle about 1 inch long; scales 3-parted, bristle-tipped; stamens 4, with bearded, yellow anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/3 inch long, brown-tomentose; calyx 4-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, large, fringed.

FRUIT.--October; globular, 1-2 inches long, with thick husk separating completely; nut usually 4-ridged, with thick shell and large, sweet, edible kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, obtuse, dark brown, pale-tomentose or nearly glabrous.

BARK.--Twigs brownish, more or less downy, becoming smooth and grayish; thick and grayish on old trunks, separating into thick strips 1-3 feet long, free at one or both ends, giving a characteristic shaggy appearance.

WOOD.--Heavy, very hard and strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, light brown, with thin, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common in the Lower Peninsula as far north as Roscommon County.

HABITAT.--Prefers light, well-drained, loamy soil; low hillsides; river-banks.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Moderately rapid in growth. Difficult to transplant.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Shellbark Hickory. King Nut+

_Carya laciniosa (Michx. f.) Loud._ [_Hicoria laciniosa (Michx. f.) Sarg._] [_Carya sulcata Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high, with a tall, slender trunk 2-3 feet in diameter; forming a narrow, oblong crown of small, spreading branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 1-2 feet long. Leaflets usually 7, the upper 5-9 inches long, 3-5 inches broad, larger than the lowest pair; sessile or short-stalked; oblong-lanceolate to obovate, taper-pointed; finely serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark green above, paler and soft-pubescent beneath. Petioles stout, glabrous or pubescent, often persistent on the branches during the winter. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 5-8 inches long, slender, yellow-green, on common peduncles 1 inch long; scales 3-lobed, tomentose; stamens 4, with yellow, hairy anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes, tomentose; calyx 3-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, light green.

FRUIT.--October; oblong to subglobose, 1-3/4-2-1/2 inches long, with very thick, woody husk, splitting to the base; nut 4-6-ridged, with thick, hard shell and large, sweet kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 1 inch long, ovoid, obtuse, dark brown, puberulous.

BARK.--Twigs orange and more or less pubescent, becoming darker in the first winter, and finally grayish; on the trunk 1-2 inches thick, light gray, separating into broad, thick plates 3-4 feet long, persistent on the trunk for many years.

WOOD.--Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close-grained, very elastic, dark brown, with thin, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs in the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula, but is rather a rare tree.

HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich bottom-lands.

NOTES.--Rapid in growth. May be distinguished from other hickories by orange colored branchlets.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Mocker Nut Hickory+

_Carya alba (L.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria alba (L.) Britt._] [_Carya tomentosa Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet; forming a wide crown of strong, upright branches and stout branchlets.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, sometimes 9, the upper 5-8 inches long, 3-4 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong- to obovate-lanceolate; minutely or sometimes coarsely serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark yellow-green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath. Petioles pubescent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 4-5 inches long, slender, green, hairy; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4-5, with red anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered, tomentose spikes; calyx toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, hairy.

FRUIT.--October; globose to globose-oblong, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thick husk splitting nearly to the base; nut 4-ridged, red-brown, with very thick, hard shell and small, sweet kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2-3/4 inch long, broadly ovoid, red-brown, pilose; outermost scales fall in early autumn.

BARK.--Twigs at first brown-tomentose, becoming smooth and grayish; on the trunk thick, hard, grayish, slightly ridged by shallow, irregular fissures, becoming rugged on very old trunks.

WOOD.--Very heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Southern Peninsula as far north as Grand Rapids and Flint. Infrequent.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich, well-drained soil, but grows well in various situations, if they are not too wet.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Difficult to transplant.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Small Pignut Hickory+

_Carya microcarpa Nutt._ [_Hicoria odorata (Marsh.) Sarg._] [_Hicoria microcarpa (Nutt.) Britt._] [_Hicoria glabra, v. odorata Sarg._]

HABIT.--A tree usually 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming an oblong or sometimes rounded crown of slender, spreading branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; sessile, except the terminal; oblong to ovate-lanceolate, long-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, lighter beneath. Petioles long, glabrous. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, greenish, glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.

FRUIT.--September; subglobose or globose-oblong, less than 1 inch long, with thin husk splitting nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin shell and small, sweet kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, red-brown, smooth.

BARK.--Twigs greenish, long-hairy, becoming reddish and finally gray; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, divided by shallow fissures into narrow plates, and more or less shaggy.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Confined to the most southern portions of the Lower Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers well-drained slopes and hillsides.

NOTES.--Resembles _C. glabra_, but the nut is much smaller.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Pignut Hickory+

_Carya glabra (Mill.) Spach._ [_Hicoria glabra (Mill.) Britt._] [_Carya porcina Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tree usually 50-65 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming a low, rather narrow, open crown of slender, often contorted branches.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 5-7, the upper 3-6 inches long, 2-2-1/2 inches broad; subsessile, except the terminal; oblong to obovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; sharply serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark yellow-green above, paler beneath. Petioles long, slender, glabrous or pubescent. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-7 inches long, slender, yellow-green, tomentose; scales 3-lobed, nearly glabrous; stamens 4, with orange anthers; the pistillate in crowded, 2-5-flowered spikes, 1/4 inch long; calyx 4-toothed, hairy; corolla 0; stigmas 2, yellow.

FRUIT.--October; variable in size and shape, 1-1/2-2 inches long, with thin husk splitting half-way and sometimes nearly to the base; nut obscurely 4-ridged, with thin or thick, hard shell and small, sweet or slightly bitter kernel which is hard to remove.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/4-1/2 inch long, dome-shaped, greenish or grayish, smooth or finely downy.

BARK.--Twigs greenish, nearly glabrous, becoming reddish, and finally grayish; thick, hard and grayish on the trunk, with a firm, close surface divided by small fissures and sometimes broken into plates.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, very strong, tough, close-grained, elastic, dark brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs only in the extreme southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. Common within its range.

HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich loam, but grows in any well-drained soil; dry ridges and hillsides.

NOTES.--Hardy and desirable for ornamental purposes. Difficult to transplant. Not adapted to street use.

+JUGLANDACEAE+

+Bitternut Hickory+

_Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch_ [_Hicoria minima (Marsh.) Britt._] [_Carya amara Nutt._]

HABIT.--A tall, slender tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2-1/2 feet; forming a broad crown of slender, stiff, upright branches, widest near the top.

LEAVES.--Alternate, compound, 6-10 inches long. Leaflets 5-11, the upper 4-6 inches long and one-fourth as broad; sessile, except the terminal; lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed; coarsely serrate; thin and firm; glabrous, bright green above, paler and more or less downy beneath. Petioles slender, hairy. Foliage fragrant when crushed.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate slightly pubescent, in pendulous, ternate catkins 3-4 inches long, on a common peduncle about 1 inch long; scales 3-lobed, hairy; stamens 4, with bearded, yellow anthers; the pistillate in 2-5-flowered spikes 1/2 inch long, scurfy-tomentose; calyx 4-lobed, pubescent; corolla 0; stigmas 2, greenish.

FRUIT.--October; obovate to globular, about 1 inch long, coated with yellow, scurfy pubescence, with very thin husk splitting half-way to the base, with sutures winged at the top; nut quite smooth, with thin shell and small, bitter kernel.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 3/4 inch long, long-pointed, flattish, granular-yellow; lateral buds more or less 4-angled.

BARK.--Twigs greenish and more or less downy, becoming brownish, and finally grayish; gray, close, smooth on the trunk, often reticulately ridged, but rarely broken into plates.

WOOD.--Heavy, very hard, strong, tough, close-grained, dark brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Of common occurrence in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers a rich, loamy or gravelly soil; low, wet woods; along the borders of streams; but also found on high, dry uplands.

NOTES.--Grows most rapidly of all the hickories, but is apt to show dead branches. Should be propagated from the seed, as it is not easily transplanted.

+BETULACEAE+

+Hornbeam. Ironwood+

_Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch_

HABIT.--A small tree usually 20-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 8-12 inches; forming a broad, rounded crown of many long, slender branches and a slender, stiff spray.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, about one-half as broad; oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; thin and very tough; dull, dark green above, paler and more or less pubescent beneath; petioles short, slender, pubescent.

FLOWERS.--April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in drooping, cylindrical catkins from wood of the previous season, usually in threes; stamens 3-14, crowded on a hairy torus; the pistillate in erect, lax catkins on the season's shoots, usually in pairs, each flower inclosed in a hairy, sac-like involucre.

FRUIT.--September; strobiles, resembling clusters of hops, 1-2 inches long, borne on slender, hairy stems; nuts small and flat, inclosed by sac-like involucres.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8-1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, red-brown.

BARK.--Twigs at first light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown, and finally dull dark brown; thin, gray-brown on the trunk, very narrowly and longitudinally ridged.

WOOD.--Heavy, very strong and hard, tough, close-grained, durable, light red-brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the entire state.

HABITAT.--Prefers dry, gravelly slopes and ridges.

NOTES.--Often grows in shade of other trees. Not easily transplanted. Rather slow of growth. Too small for street use.

+BETULACEAE+

+Blue Beech. Water Beech+

_Carpinus caroliniana Walt._

HABIT.--Usually a low, bushy tree or large shrub, 10-30 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 6-12 inches; trunk short, usually fluted; slender zigzag branches and a fine spray form a close, flat-topped crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oval, long-pointed; sharply doubly serrate; thin and firm; dull green above, lighter beneath, turning scarlet and orange in autumn; petioles short, slender, hairy.

FLOWERS.--May, after the leaves; monoecious; apetalous; the staminate catkins 1-1-1/2 inches long, their scales greenish, boat-shaped, each bearing 3-20 stamens; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, their scales hairy, greenish, each bearing 2 pistils with long, scarlet styles.

FRUIT.--Ripens in midsummer, but often remains on the tree long after the leaves have fallen; in loose, terminal strobiles; involucre halberd-shaped, inclosing a small, ovate, brownish nut.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/8 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, puberulous, brownish.

BARK.--Twigs pale green, hairy, becoming lustrous, dark red the first winter; trunk and large limbs thin, smooth, close, dark bluish gray, often mottled with lighter or darker patches.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, tough, very strong, close-grained, light brown, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the state.

HABITAT.--Prefers a deep, rich, moist soil along the borders of streams and swamps. Often found in drier situations in the shade of other trees.

NOTES.--Propagated from seed. Not easily transplanted. Slow of growth. Seldom found in masses.

+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA+

a. Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, papery layers; twigs without wintergreen taste; leaves usually solitary, not aromatic. _B. alba papyrifera_, p. 91.

aa. Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not separating freely into papery layers; twigs with more or less wintergreen taste; leaves solitary or in pairs, aromatic.

b. Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curled at the edges; leaves solitary or in pairs, slightly aromatic; twigs with slight wintergreen taste. _B. lutea_, p. 89.

bb. Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates (resembles bark of Black Cherry); leaves in pairs, strongly aromatic; twigs with strong wintergreen taste. _B. lenta_, p. 87.

+WINTER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BETULA+

a. Bark of trunk white, separating freely into thin, papery layers; twigs without wintergreen taste. _B. alba papyrifera_, p. 91.

aa. Bark of trunk not white, usually dark colored, not separating into papery layers; twigs with more or less wintergreen taste.

b. Bark dirty-yellow, breaking into strips more or less curled at the edges; twigs with slight wintergreen taste. _B. lutea_, p. 89.

bb. Bark dark red-brown, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates (resembles bark of Black Cherry); twigs with strong wintergreen taste. _B. lenta_, p. 87

+BETULACEAE+

+Sweet Birch. Black Birch. Cherry Birch+

_Betula lenta L._[F]

HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; slender, wide-spreading, pendulous branches, forming a narrow, rounded, open crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate in pairs, simple, 3-4 inches long and one-half as broad; outline variable, ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate, with slender, incurved teeth; dull, dark green above, light yellow-green beneath; petioles short, stout, hairy, deeply grooved above; aromatic.

FLOWERS.--April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, yellowish; the pistillate catkins 1/2-3/4 inch long, erect or suberect, greenish.

FRUIT.--Ripens in autumn; sessile, glabrous, erect strobiles, 1-1-1/2 inches long and half as thick; scales glabrous; nuts slightly broader than their wings.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, sharp-pointed, red-brown, divergent.

BARK.--Twigs light green, becoming lustrous, red-brown in their first winter; very dark on old trunks, cleaving off in thick, irregular plates. Resembles bark of Black Cherry. Inner bark aromatic, spicy.

WOOD.--Heavy, very hard and strong, close-grained, dark red-brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Scattered throughout the state; rare in the south, more abundant and of larger size in the north.

HABITAT.--Grows in any situation, but prefers moist, rocky slopes and rich uplands.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Easily transplanted.

+BETULACEAE+

+Yellow Birch. Gray Birch+

_Betula lutea Michx. f._

HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high and 2-4 feet in trunk diameter; numerous slender, pendulous branches form a broad, open, rounded crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate, solitary or in pairs, simple, 3-5 inches long and one-half as broad; ovate to oblong-ovate; sharply doubly serrate; dull dark green above, yellow-green beneath; petioles short, slender, grooved, hairy; slightly aromatic.

FLOWERS.--April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, purplish yellow; the pistillate catkins sessile or nearly so, erect, almost 1 inch long, greenish.

FRUIT.--Ripens in autumn; sessile or short-stalked, erect, glabrous strobiles, about 1 inch long and half as thick; scales downy on the back and edges; nut about as broad as the wing.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds about 1/4 inch long, conical, acute, chestnut-brown, more or less appressed; bud-scales more or less pubescent.

BARK.--Twigs, branches and young stems smooth, very lustrous, silvery gray or light orange; becoming silvery yellow-gray as the trunk expands and breaking into strips more or less curled at the edges; old trunks becoming gray or blackish, dull, deeply and irregularly fissured into large, thin plates; somewhat aromatic, slightly bitter.

WOOD.--Heavy, very strong and hard, close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thin, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Throughout the state, but more abundant and of larger size northward.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich, moist uplands, but grows in wet or dry situations.

NOTES.--One of the largest deciduous-leaved trees of Michigan. Easily transplanted, but not desirable as a street tree.

+BETULACEAE+

+Paper Birch. Canoe Birch. White Birch+

_Betula alba papyrifera_ (_Marsh._) _Spach_. [_Betula papyrifera Marsh._]

HABIT.--A tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet, forming in youth a compact, pyramidal crown of many slender branches, becoming in old age a long, branchless trunk with a broad, open crown, composed of a few large limbs ascending at an acute angle, with almost horizontal branches and a slender, flexible spray.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 2-3 inches long, 1-1/2-2 inches broad; ovate; coarsely, more or less doubly serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, lighter beneath, covered with minute black glands; petioles stout, yellow, glandular, glabrous or pubescent.

FLOWERS.--April, before the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins clustered or in pairs, 3-4 inches long, slender, pendent, brownish; the pistillate catkins about 1-1/2 inches long, slender, erect or spreading, greenish; styles bright red.

FRUIT.--Ripens in autumn; long-stalked, cylindrical, glabrous, drooping strobiles, about 1-1/2 inches long; scales hairy on the margin; nut narrower than its wing.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, narrow-ovoid, acute, flattish, slightly resinous, usually divergent.

BARK.--Twigs dull red, becoming lustrous orange-brown; bark of trunk and large limbs cream-white and lustrous on the outer surface, bright orange on the inner, separating freely into thin, papery layers, becoming furrowed and almost black near the ground.

WOOD.--Light, hard, strong, tough, very close-grained, light brown tinged with red, with thick, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Lansing and northward. Common in central Michigan as a small tree. Of larger size in the Upper Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers rich, moist hillsides; borders of streams, lakes and swamps; but is also found in drier situations.

NOTES.--A rapid grower in youth. The bark is used by the Indians and woodsmen for canoes, wigwams, baskets, torches, etc.

+FAGACEAE+

+Beech. White Beech+

_Fagus grandifolia Ehrh._ [_Fagus atropunicea_ (_Marsh._) _Sudw._] [_Fagus ferruginea Ait._] [_Fagus americana Sweet_]

HABIT.--A beautiful tree, rising commonly to a height of 50-75 feet, with a trunk diameter of 2-4 feet; in the forest, tall and slender, with short branches forming a narrow crown, in the open with a short, thick trunk and numerous slender, spreading branches, forming a broad, compact, rounded crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-5 inches long, one-half as broad; oblong-ovate, acuminate; coarsely serrate, a vein terminating in each tooth; thin; dark blue-green above, light yellow-green and very lustrous beneath; petioles short, hairy.

FLOWERS.--April-May, with the leaves; monoecious; the staminate in globose heads 1 inch in diameter, on long, slender, hairy peduncles, yellow-green; calyx campanulate, 4-7-lobed, hairy; corolla 0; stamens 8-10; the pistillate on short, hairy peduncles in 2-flowered clusters surrounded by numerous awl-shaped, hairy bracts; calyx urn-shaped, 4-5-lobed; corolla 0; ovary 3-celled; styles 3.

FRUIT.--Ripens in autumn; a prickly bur borne on stout, hairy peduncles, persistent on the branch after the nuts have fallen; nuts usually 3, 3/4 inch long, sharply tetrahedral, brownish; sweet and edible.

WINTER-BUDS.--Nearly 1 inch long, very slender, cylindrical, gradually taper-pointed, brownish, puberulous.

BARK.--Twigs lustrous, olive-green, finally changing through brown to ashy gray; close, smooth, steel-gray on the trunk, often mottled by darker blotches and bands.

WOOD.--Hard, tough, strong, very close-grained, not durable, difficult to season, light or dark red, with thin, whitish sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common in the Lower Peninsula, especially in the northern portions; rare in the Upper Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers deep, rich, well-drained loam, but is found and does well on a great variety of soils.

NOTES.--Hardy throughout its range. Desirable for landscape work because of its clean trunk and limbs, deep shade, and freedom from insect pests. Often suckers from the roots.

+FAGACEAE+

+Chestnut+

_Castanea dentata_ (_Marsh._) _Borkh._ [_Castanea vesca, v. americana Michx._] [_Castanea sativa, v. americana Sarg._]

HABIT.--A tree 60-80 feet high, forming a short, straight trunk 2-4 feet in diameter, divided not far above the ground into several stout, horizontal limbs and forming a broad, open, rounded crown.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 6-8 inches long, 2-3 inches broad; oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed at the apex; coarsely serrate with stout, incurved, glandular teeth; thin; dull yellow-green above, lighter beneath, glabrous; petioles short, stout, puberulous.

FLOWERS.--June-July, after the leaves; monoecious; the staminate catkins 6-8 inches long, slender, puberulous, bearing 3-7-flowered cymes of yellow-green flowers; calyx 6-cleft, pubescent; stamens 10-20; the androgynous catkins 2-1/2-5 inches long, puberulous, bearing 2-3 prickly involucres of pistillate flowers near their base; calyx campanulate, 6-lobed; styles 6.

FRUIT.--Ripens in autumn; round, thick, prickly burs, about 2 inches in diameter, containing 1-3 nuts; nuts compressed, brownish, coated with whitish down at the apex; sweet and edible.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud absent; lateral buds 1/4 inch long, ovoid, acute, brownish.

BARK.--Twigs lustrous, yellow-green, becoming olive-green and finally dark brown; old trunks gray-brown, with shallow fissures and broad, flat ridges.

WOOD.--Light, soft, coarse-grained, weak, easily split, very durable in contact with the soil, red-brown, with very thin, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--South-eastern Michigan, as far north as St. Clair County. Abundant in eastern Monroe County and Wayne County.

HABITAT.--Pastures; hillsides; glacial drift; well-drained, gravelly or rocky soil.

NOTES.--A rapid grower and living to a great age. Difficult to transplant. Subject to a disease which threatens extermination in this country.

+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF QUERCUS+

a. Leaves deeply cut or lobed.

b. Leaf-lobes acute, bristle-tipped; fruit maturing in the second season.

c. Lower surface of leaves more or less pubescent.