DENDROLOGY. 165 



months. This tree possesses the agreeable singularity of bearing 

 flowers when it is only three or four feet high. The fruit is an 

 oval capsule, divided into five compartments, each of which 

 contains small, black, winged seeds. These seeds appear to 

 germinate successfully only in places covered with sphagnum, a 

 species of moss which copiously imbibes water. 



In trunks of these trees which exceed fifteen inches in 

 diameter four-fifths of the wood is heart. The wood is of a rosy 

 hue, and of a fine, silky texture ; it appears to be very proper 

 for the inside of furniture, though the cypress is generally 

 preferred. It is extremely light; when seasoned it is very 

 brittle, and it rapidly decays unless it is kept perfectly dry : 

 hence it is entirely neglected in use for timber, and it is not 

 employed for fuel. The value of the bark in tanning compensates 

 in some measure for the uselessness of its wood : it is employed 

 for this purpose throughout the maritime parts of the Southern 

 States and of the Floridas. For although this branch of industry 

 is by no means as extensively practised in this part of the country, 

 as in the Northern States, and though these regions afford many 

 species of oak, yet the species whose bark is proper for tanning 

 are not sufficiently multiplied to supply the consumption* 



. 



Franklinia. Gordonia pubescens. 



This species of Gordonia appears to be restricted by nature 

 within very narrow bounds, having hitherto been found only on 

 the banks of the Altamaha in Georgia. It was discovered there 

 in 1770, by John Bartram, who gave it the name of Franklinia 

 in honor of Dr. Franklin. It flourishes best in a sandy peat. 



The Franklinia is much smaller than the preceding species, 

 and rarely exceeds 30 feet in height and six or eight inches in 

 diameter. The bark of the trunk presents a smooth and angular 

 surface, like that of the hornbeam. The leaves are alternate, 

 oblong, narrowed at the base and toothed : they are annually 

 shed in autumn. It blooms in Carolina about the beginning of 

 July, and a month later near Philadelphia. The flowers are 



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