Artificial Group Floriferae Polypetalae  Subclass Hamamelidae

Hamamelidaceae (Witch-hazel Family)
     [Grk name = together + apple, in reference to flower & 
          fruit being present at same time]

     26 Genera
     100 species (2 on campus)

I. Leaves
     A. Alternate
     B. Simple
     C. Stipulate

II. Flowers
     A. Perfect Hamamelis
     B. Imperfect (monoecious) Liquidambar

III. Fruit
     A. Two celled capsule
          1. single Hamamelis
          2. multiple Liquidambar

IV. Economic importance
     A. Hamamelis bark & twigs source of rubbing lotion ingredient
     B. Liquidambar important hardwood lumber in S. USA
     C. Liquidambar used in S. USA in paper pulp industry
     D. L. orientalis (Asia) source of storax = balsam 
          used in soaps, perfumes, pharmaceuticals.

V. Range
     A. SE USA, Mexico, C. America; S. Africa, Asia, Australia
          midway between tropic and temperate latitudes
Hamamelis virginiana (Witch-hazel)

     A. Broadly elliptical leaves with irregularly and coursely
          repand margins
     B. Two small scales subtend "naked" tawny bud
     C. Fall flowers with yellow strap-like petals
     D. Spiny brownish-black capsule forcible ejects seeds 
          up to 6 meters!

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum, Redgum)
     [Latin = "liquidus" = fluid + Arabic = amber in reference
          to fragrant resen from bark of L. orientalis]
     [Resin(styrax)-flowing]

     A. Star shaped leaves with serrate margins
     B. Aromatic green / yellow brown twigs with lammas shoots
     C. Globose multiple of capsules
     D. Narrow, rounded, flaky ridges separated by deep furrows
          grayish-brown barkArtificial Group Floriferae Polypetalae  Subclass Hamamilidae

Platanaceae (American Sycamore, Planetree Family)
     [Grk name]

     1 Genus
     6,7 species (1 on campus)

I.  Leaves
     A. Alternate
     B. Simple
     C. 3-7 palmately lobed with big teeth
     D. Palmate venation
     E. Foliaceous Stipules

II. Flowers
     A. Imperfect (monoecious)

III. Fruit
     A. Multiple globose head of elongate achenes
          1. Single Platunus occidentalis
          2. 3-7 P. orientalis
          3. 2-3 P. acerifolia (London planetree)
               P. occidentalis X orientalis

IV. Bark
     A. Intermediate age scales off in large puzzle shape
          plates revealing green/creamy white inner bark
     B. Old bark brown & scaly

V. Economic importance
     A. Lumber & veneer for boxes, crates, furniture
     B. Wood pulp (vigorous coppice growth)
     C. Hearty city street tree

VI. Range
     A. Temperate regions of N. hemisphere; Mexico; India
Artificial Group Floriferae Polypetalae  Subclass Rosidae 
 
Cornaceae (Dogwood Family) 
 
     15 Genera (2 on campus) 
     120 species 
 
I.  Leaves 
 
     A. Simple 
     B. Estipulate 
     C. Opposite (most Cornus); Alternate (Nyssa) 
 
II. Flowers 
 
     A. Perfect, 4-merous (Cornus) 
     B. Imperfect, polygamo-dioecious (Nyssa) 
 
III. Fruit 
 
     A. Drupe 
 
IV. Economic Importance 
 
     A. Ornamental (Cornus) 
     B. Plywood veneer & wood pulp, especially in 
          S. coastal plains USA (Nyssa) 
 
V. Range 
 
     A. Eastern N. America & mountains of N. Mexico 


Generic/species comparison 
 
I. Cornus (Dogwoods) 
     [Ancient L name for cornelian cherry] 
 
     A. Homogeneous Pith 
     B. Arcuate veins 
 
     C. Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) 
          1. Lateral buds hidden by petioles 
          2. Knob shaped flower buds 
 
     D. Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry) 
          1. Lateral buds evident 
          2. Top shaped flower buds 
 
II. Nyssa (Tupelo) 
     [Water nymph] 
 
     A. Diaphragmed Pith 
     B. Parallel straight veins 
 
     C. Nyssa sylvatica (Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sourgum) 
          [of the forest] 
 
          1. 5-13 cm obovate leaves 
          2. Alligator hide bark