20 years planted, it is 25 ft. high; in Oxfordshire, in the Oxford Botanic Garden, 40 years planted, it is 55 ft. high; in Pembrokeshire, at Stackpole Court, 35 years planted, it is 40 ft. high; in Rutlandshire, at Belvoir Castle, 26 years planted, it is 60 ft. high; in Staffordshire, at Trentham, 20 years planted, it is 20 ft. high: in Suffolk, at Finborough Hall, 60 years planted, it is 70 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 34 ft., and of the head 42 ft.; at Ampton Hall, 13 years planted, it is 26 ft. high in Worcestershire, at Hagley, 11 years planted, it is 16 ft. high; at Coombe Abbey, A. g. laciniata, 40 years planted, is 70 ft. high. In Scotland, in Berwickshire, at the Hirsel, 12 years planted, it is 24 ft. high; in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, at St. Mary's Isle, 40 years planted, it is 53 ft. high; in Haddingtonshire, at Tynningham, it is 24 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 16 in., and of the head 36 ft. in Lanarkshire, in the Glasgow Botanic Garden, 16 years planted, it is 30 ft. high; and 4. g. laciniata, 16 years planted, is 35 ft. high in Argyllshire, at Toward Castle, 12 years planted, it is 23 ft. high; in Banffshire, at Huntley Lodge, it is 63 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 4 ft. 3 in., and of the head 60 ft.; in Forfarshire, at Monboddo, 34 years planted, it is 30 ft. high; in Perthshire, at Taymouth, it is 30 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 4 in., and of the head 14 ft.; in Ross-shire, at Brahan Castle, 45 years planted, it is 40 ft. high; in Stirlingshire, at Callender Park, 16 years planted, it is 39 ft. high. In Ireland, near Dublin, in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 35 years planted, it is 40 ft. high; at Terenure, 15 years planted, it is 20 ft. high. In King's County, at Charleville Forest, 8 years planted, it is 18 ft. high; in Fermanagh, at Florence Court, 4. g. laciniata, 40 years planted, is 60 ft. high; in Galway, at Coole, the species is 30 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and of the head 32 ft.; in Louth, at Oriel Temple, 4. g. laciniata, 31 years planted, is 44 ft. high; in Sligo, at Mackree Castle, the species is 60 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and of the head 36 ft.; in Tyrone, at Baron's Court, 50 years planted, it is 45 ft high. In France, at Nantes, in the nursery of M. De Nerrières, 50 years old, it is 60 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 14 ft. at Avranches, in the Botanic Garden, A. g. laciniata, 20 years old, is 28 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 9 in., and of the head 16 ft. In Hanover, at Harbcke, 6 years old, it is 8 ft. high, with a trunk 2 in. in diameter. In Austria, at Vienna, in the garden of Baron Loudon, 14 years planted, it is 16 ft. high; at Brück on the Leytha, A. g. laciniata, 24 years old, is 25 ft. high. In Italy, in Lombardy, at Monza, 70 years old, it is 80 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft., and of the head 60 ft. 2. A. (G) OBLONGATA Willd. The oblong-leaved Alder. Identification. Willd. Sp. Pl., 4. p. 335.; Baum., p. 20.; N. Du Ham., 2. p. 215. Synonymes. Alnus fol. oblong., &c., Bauh. ; d. fol. ovato-lanceol., &c., Mill. Dict., ed. 7.; langliche Else, Ger. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves elliptic, somewhat obtuse, glutinous; axils of the veins naked on the under side. (Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p. 335.) A large shrub or low tree, said to be a native of Hungary, Austria, and Turkey. It was introduced by Miller, in 1749, who is said to have raised it from seed; and, if so, it must be a tolerably distinct kind; which, indeed, it appears to be, though we are doubtful as to whether it is entitled to rank as a species. The largest plant of A. oblongata that we have heard of is in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, where, in 1834, after being 30 years planted, it is 30 ft. high; which confirms Willdenow's conjecture, that, in a mild moist climate, it may become a tree. There are plants in the Horticultural Society's Gardens, and at Messrs. Loddiges's. Variety. A. (g.) o. 2 folis ellipticis Ait., A. pùmila Lodd. Cat., has the leaves narrower than the species. 3. A. INCA NA Willd. The hoary-leaved Alder. Identification. Willd. Sp. Pl., 4. p. 335.; Baum., p. 20.; N. Du Ham., 2. p. 215.; Hoss Anleitung, p. 190. Synonymes. B. A'lnus var. incàna Lin. Sp. Pl., 1994. ; B. incana Lin. Supp.; A. folio incàno, &c., Bauh. Pin., 428.; B. viridis Vill. Dauph., 2. p. 789.; weisse Erle, graue Else, or weisse Eller, Ger. Engravings. Hayne Abbild., t. 136. ; and our fig. 1543. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves oblong, acute, pubescent beneath; axils of the veins naked. Stipules lanceolate. (Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p. 335.) A tree, which grows in light sandy soil, in Lapland, Sweden, and Prussia; and on the hills in Austria, Carniola, the Ukraine, Tyrol, and Switzerland; also in North America. This tree, which Hoss informs us is common on the banks of the Danube, will attain a greater height than the common alder, or from 50 ft. to 70 ft., even in a tolerably dry soil. It differs from the common alder, in the leaves being pointed, in the leaves and the young wood not being glutinous, in their hoary appearance, and in the absence of tufts of hair in the axils of the nerves of the leaves. It was introduced into England in 1780, but has not been much cultivated. There are plants at Messrs. Loddiges's 30 ft. high. It forms a very handsome tree, and well deserves a place in ornamental plantations. Varieties. A. i. 2 laciniata Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.-The leaves are slightly laciniated. A. i. 3 glauca; A. glaúca Michx. N. Amer. Sylv., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; A. i. 4 angulata Ait.-Leaves green underneath, with the petioles green. Other Varieties. A. americana Lodd. Cat., A. canadensis Lodd. Cat., and A. rubra Lodd. Cat., appear to belong to this species; but the plants in the Hackney arboretum are so small, that we have not been able to satisfy ourselves that they are sufficiently distinct to constitute varieties. 4. A. SERRULATA Willd. The saw-leaved Alder. Identification. Willd. Sp. Pl., 4. p. 336.; Baum., p. 21.; N. Du Ham., 2. p. 216.; Pursh FL. Amer. Engravings. Wang. Amer., t. 29. f. 60.; Abbott's Insects, 2. t. 92.; Michx. N. Amer. Syl., t. 75. f. 1.; and our fig. 1544., on which are exhibited the larva, pupa, and perfect insect of the Noctua (Acronýcta) hastilifera, Phala`na hastulífera Abb. and Smith, the American alder dagger moth, which inhabits this tree. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves obovate, acuminate; veins and their axils hairy on the under side. Stipules elliptic, obtuse. (Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p. 336.) A shrub, from 6 ft. to 10 ft. high; a native of North America, in swamps and on river sides. According to Michaux, it is frequent along the sides of brooks, but abounds most in places covered with stagnant water. Its leaves are of a beautiful green, about 2 in. long, oval, distinctly furrowed on the surface, and doubly denticulated at the edge. The wood, when cut into, is white; but, like that of all the alders, it becomes reddish when it comes in contact with the air. The dwarf stature of this, and all the other American alders, renders them of no use as timber trees; but, according to Rafinesque, the leaves are vulnerary and astringent. The bark is styptic, and is used for dyeing brown, and, with vitriol, black. The inner bark of the root is emetic, and dyes yellow. The female catkins also dye black. Plants, in the London nurseries, are from 1s. to 1s. 6d. each; and seeds ls. per oz. wyller, plants are 1 franc; at New York, 15 cents. 5. A. UNDULATA Willd. The waved-leaved Alder. At Boll Identification. Willd. Sp. Pl., 4. p. 336.; Baum., p. 21.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. Synonymes. Bétula crispa Ait. Hort. Kew., 3. p. 339.; B. 4 Inus var. crispa Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer. 2. p. 181.; 4. crispa Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 623., N. Du Ham., 2. p. 216. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves oblong, acute, rounded at the base; petioles and veins hairy on the under side; axils of the veins naked; stipules ovateoblong. (Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p. 336.) A shrub, not above 3 ft. or 4 ft. high; a native of Canada, and on high mountains in sphagnous swamps in Pennsylvania. In the Berlin Botanic Garden, according to Willdenow, it was 15ft. high in 1811. Plants, in the London nurseries, are 2s. 6d. each; and at New York, 20 cents; and seeds 1 dollar and 25 cents per pound. 6. A. CORDIFO`LIA Lodd. The heart-leaved Alder. Identification. Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 1231. Synonyme. A. cordata Tenore Prod., 54., Hayne Dend., p. 153. Engravings. Bot. Cab., t. 1231.; our fig. 1545.; and the plate of this species in our last Volume. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves heart-shaped, acuminate, dark green and shining. (Tenore.) A tree of similar magnitude to the common alder; a native of Calabria and Naples, in woods. Introduced in 1820, and flowering in March and April, before the developement of the leaves. 1545 "A large and very handsome round-headed tree, with broad, deep green, shining leaves, deeply heart-shaped at the base. It grows with rapidity, and is one of the most interesting ornamental trees that have of late years been introduced." (Penny Cyc., art. Alnus.) It is a most distinct species; and, though a native of the kingdom of Naples, it is perfectly hardy. It ripens seeds in the climate of London, and might easily be rendered as common as A. glutinòsa. There is a very handsome tree in the collection of Messrs. Loddiges; and another in the Horticultural Society's Garden. Plants, in the London nurseries, are 1s. 6d. each; at Bollwyller, 2 francs; and at New York, 50 cents. 7. A. VIRIDIS Dec. The green-leaved Alder. Identification. De Candolle Pl. Fl., 3. p. 304. Engravings. Dend. Brit., t. 96.; Bot. Cab., t. 1141.; Schmidt Estr. Baum, 3. t. 189. ; and our fig. 1546., in which a is the ament, or male catkin; b, the male flower magnified; c, the stamen magnified; d, a longitudinal section of the cone or female catkin ; e, and g, transverse sections of the cone, to show the position of the scales; f, the female catkins; h, the samara, or seed, with its wings. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, doubly serrated, glabrous. Peduncles of the female catkins branched. Scales of the strobiles having equal lobes, truncate-nerved. (Willd. Sp. Pl., iv. p. 465.) A large shrub, or low bushy tree: a native of the high mountains of Hungary, Styria, and Carinthia; and of Germany, in the neighbourhood of Salzburg. Flowering, in Messrs. Loddiges's collection, in March and April; and ripening its seed in August. It was introduced in 1820. This plant is considered by many botanists as intermediate between the alders and the birches. It agrees with the alders, in having the peduncles of the female catkins ramose; and in general appearance it resembles the A'lnus incàna in a young state: but it belongs to the birches, by the parts of its fructification, and by the number of its stamens. The stem of the plant, in its native habitat, seldom rises higher than 5 ft. or 6 ft. It divides into smooth branches, angular, furnished with alternate oval leaves, smooth on both surfaces, and doubly serrated. The teeth are sharp, and almost alternately long and short. The male catkins are 23 in. long, slender, cylindric, with numerous pediceled flowers. The females are subcorymbose, elliptic, with slender peduncles. Watson, who has given a good figure of this species, says, from the habit and inflorescence of the female, this plant may be considered an Alnus; but the fruit, being a samara, "claims it a Bétula." As the general appearance of the plant more resembles an alder than a birch, we have placed it under the former genus. It is a very handsome shrub, and is well deserving of a place in collections. There are plants at Messrs. Loddiges's, in the Horticultural Society's Garden, and in some of the nurseries. App. i. Other Species of Alnus. The genus Alnus, Mr. Royle informs us in his admirable Illustrations, "has the same distribution in the Himalayas that it has in the northern hemisphere; that is, it occurs in moist situations, and along the course of rivers. A. obtusifolia Royle is very abundant on the banks of the Jumna and Tonce. A. elongata Royle occurs in Cashmere; and A. nepalensis Wall. Pl. As. Rar., t. 131., on the mountains surrounding the valley from which it was named." (Illust., p. 341.) It appears probable, that, of the above species, at least A. nepalensis, a tree from 30 ft. to 40 ft. high, may prove sufficiently hardy to bear the climate of London; and we hope it may soon be introduced. GENUS II. BE'TULA Tourn. THE BIRCH. Lin. Syst. Mona'cia Polyándria. Identification. Tourn., t. 360.; Lin. Gen., 485.; Juss., 409.; Fl. Br., 1011.; Comp., ed. 4., 157.; Lam., t. 760.; Gærtn., t. 90.; Lindl. Nat. Syst. Bot., p. Synonymes. Bouleau, Fr.; Betula, Ital.; Abedul, Span.; Betulla, Port.; Birke, Ger.; Berk, Dutch; Birk, Danish and Scotch; Biörk, or Börk, Swedish; Beresa, Russian; Brzoza, Polish. Derivations. From betu, its Celtic name; or, according to others, from the Latin word batuere, to beat; from the fasces of the Roman lictors, which were always made of birch rods, being used to drive back the people. Pliny derives the name from bitumen. Description, &c. The species are chiefly deciduous trees, some of which are of large size; but several of the species are shrubs. They are natives of Europe, chiefly in the most northern parts, or in high elevations in the south; of North America; and some of them of Asia. They are generally found in mountainous rocky situations in the middle of Europe; but they grow wild in plains and peaty soils in the northern regions. The common birch is one of the hardiest of known trees; and there are only one or two other species of ligneous plants which approach so near to the North Pole. The common birch has been known from the earliest ages; and it has long been the most useful tree to the inhabitants of the extreme north of Europe; as the canoe birch has been to those of the north of North America. The species all ripen seeds in the climate of London, and are all of the easiest culture in any ordinary soil; but, being hair-rooted, they do not grow so well in very strong clays; nor do plants of this genus, when raised from layers or cuttings, grow so freely as in the case of some other genera. The leaves of the birch having little succulency, and being astringent and aromatic, they are very rarely subject to the attacks of insects. The wood of all the species is much less durable than the bark. Identification. Lin. Sp. Pl., 1393.; Willd., 4. p. 462.; FL Br., 1012.; Engl. Fl., 4. p. 153.; Hook. Scot., 274.; Hook. Br. Fl., 3d ed., p. 411. Synonymes. B. pubéscens Ehrh. Arb., 67., PL. Qff, 338.; B., No. 1628., Hall. Hist.; Bétula Rait Syn., 445.; B. ætnensis Rafi., according to Comp. to Bot. Mag., 1. p. 91.; Bouleau commun, Fr.; gemeine Birke, Ger. Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 2198.; Fl. Dan., t. 1467.; Trag. Hist., 1113. f.; Bauh. Hist., 1. pt. 2. p. 149. f.; Matth. Valgr., 1. p. 121. f.; Cam. Epit., p. 69. f.; Dod. Pempt., 839. f.; Ger. Emac., p. 1378. f.; Lob. Ic., 2. p. 190. f.; our fig. 1547.; and fig. 1550., of the entire tree; and the plate of this species in our last Volume. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, acute, somewhat deltoid, unequally serrated, nearly glabrous. (Eng. Fl., iv. p. 153.) A tree, a native of almost every part of Europe, but more especially of the colder regions. A diminutive shrub in the extreme north, but a tree from 50 ft. to 60 ft. high in the middle regions; flowering, in Lapland, in May; and in the Apennines, in February and March. Varieties. * B. a. 2 péndula Smith, Lodd. Cat., ed. plate of the young tree in our last Volume.) Some Continental and "Where weeps the birch with silver bark, B. a. 3 pubescens; B. pubescens Ehrh. Beitr., vi. 98., Willd., iv. 462., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; and our fig. 1548 1548.; has the leaves covered with white hairs; and, though con |
