Amentiferae Artificial Group / Hamamelidae Subclass Betulaceae (Birch Family) 6 Genera (4 on campus) 120 species I. Leaves A. Deciduous B. Alternate C. Simple D. Stipulate E. Double Serrate II. Flowers A. Monoecious B. Axillary staminate aments C. Axillary pistillate short spikelike aments III. Fruits A. Small to medium size winged/unwinged nut subtended by papery or semiwoody bract IV. Economic importance A. Ornamental B. Veneer (doors, cabinets) C. Furniture lumber D. Fuel wood E. Edible Filbert/Hazelnut (Corylus) V. Range A. North temperate latitudes Generic comparison/ Species characteristics I. Betula (Birch) [Shining, in reference to bark] A. Very small laterally winged nuts subtended by three lobed bract in compact ament B. B. nigra (River birch) 1. Deltoid leaves with white & pubescence underside 2. Horzontally elongated lenticels 3. Salmon-pink bark curls into horizontal sheets II. Alnus (Alder) Not present on campus [Latin name] A. Very small laterally winged nuts born on a woody persistent conelike ament III. Carpinus (Hornbeam) [Latin name, Celtic for a yoke made from this wood] A. Small unwinged nuts subtended by three lobed bract in leafy spikelike clusters B. Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam, bluebeech, musclewood, water beech, ironwood) 1. Elliptical leaves 2. Pubescent, < 4mm long buds 3. Smooth, blue-grey, fluted bark IV. Ostrya (Hophornbeam) [Greek = Shell, in reference to bladderlike bracts] A. Small unwinged nuts enclosed in bladderlike bracts in elongated clusters resembling hops infructescence B. Ostrya virginiana (Hophornbeam, ironwood) 1. Elliptical yellow-green leaves 2. Brown, vertical platelike shredded bark V. Corylus (Hazel nut) [Latin name] A. Large unwinged nuts subtended by foliaceous bract B. Corylus avellana (Filbert, Hazel nut) 1. Oval to broadly elliptical leaves with capitate hairs 2. Shrub Amentiferae Artificial Group / Dilleniidae Subclass Salicaceae (Willow or Poplar Family) [Latin for willow] 2 Genera 350 species (2,3 on campus) I. Leaves 1. Deciduous 2. Alternate 3. Simple 4. Stipulate 5. Often with glands on petiole or lamina] II. Flowers 1. Dioecious 2. Both male & female flowers born in aments III. Fruits 1. 1 celled, 2- to 4- valved capsule containing numerous tufted short lived moisture requiring seeds IV. Economic importance 1. Coppice growth -> erosion control 2. Fast growing, short lived ornamentals 3. Wood pulp for paper 4. Box, crate lumber V. Range 1. Worldwide, but most abundant in cooler northern latitudes and mountainous regions of tropics Generic comparison / Species Characteristics Salix (Willow) [Latin for willow] A. Lanceolate to elliptical leaves, sessile or with short petiole B. Persistant stipules C. No terminal buds present because inflorescence in terminal position D. Lateral buds covered with single caplike scale E. V-shaped leaf scars F. S. nigra (Black willow) 1. Slender, brittle, purplish-green to orange-brown twigs 2. Reddish brown lateral buds 3. Brown to blackish bark subdivided into deep fissures seperating interlacing scaly ridges G. Common ornamental species 1. S. discolor (Pussy willow) 2. S. babylonica (Weeping willow) Populus (Aspens, Cottonwoods, Poplars) [Latin for Poplar] A. Ovate to deltoid leaves with long terete or laterally compressed petioles B. Stipules not persistant C. Terminal buds present with imbricate scales 1. Nonresinous in Aspens 2. Resinous in Cottonwoods & Poplars D. Deltoid to Elliptical leaf scars E. Populus deltoides (Eastern cottonwood) 1. Deltate to ovate-deltate leaves with laterally compressed petioles and glands along margin 2. Ashy gray bark subdivided into thick, broad, flattened or rounded ridges seperated by deep furrows F. Other common species important for pulp wood 1. P. tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) a. Most widely distributed tree in USA 2. P. grandidentata (Big Tooth Aspen) Ornamental Families within Floriferae Annonaceae (Custard-Apple Family) 130 Genera 2300 species I. Leaves A. Simple B. Alternate C. Estipulate D. Entire E. Aromatic II. Flowers A. Solitary B. Perfect C. Regular D. 6-9 tepals E. numerous stamens F. 3-celled pistil IV. Fruit A. Berry with large seeds V. Economic Importance A. Edible Fruit 1. Custard Apple (Annona reticulata) 2. Cherimoya (Annona cherimoya) 3. Soursop (Annona muricata) 4. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) VI. Range A. Tropics VII. Asimina triloba (Pawpaw) [Native American name-G, three lobed-se] A. Small understory tree B. Obovate, foul smelling leaves C. Dark maroon flower Aquifoliaceae (Holly Family) 4 Genera 420 species I. Leaves A. Mostly evergreen B. Alternate C. Simple D. Stipulate II. Flowers A. Imperfect (dioecious) B. 5-merous III. Fruit A. Drupe IV. Economic Importance A. Ornamentals B. Christmas decorations C. Furniture wood V. Range A. Worldwide VI. Ilex opaca (American Holly) [Ancient L name for oak-G, opaque-se] A. Spiny teeth (aculeate) B. Greenish-white flowers C. Poisonous red fruit D. Light gray, warty bark Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family) 53 Genera 900 species I. Leaves A. Simple B. Stipulate C. Alternate or subopposite II. Flowers A. Perfect or imperfect (polygamous) B. 5-merous C. 2-, 3-celled pistil III. Fruit A. Drupe, capsule IV. Economic Importance A. Roots, bark, stems, leaves contain useful compounds for pharmaceuticals B. Edible jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) from Asia V. Range A. Tropics & warmer latitudes VI. Rhamnus cathartica (European Buckthorn) [Ancient Grk name for prickly shrubs-G, purgative-se] A. Purplish black drupe B. Spine tipped branches