250 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



are scattered in the wind, by means of the plumy tuft by which 

 they are surmounted. 



The trunk and branches of the buttonwood are covered with a 

 smooth, pale green bark, of which the epidermis detaches itself 

 every year in portions : a sufficiently obvious character is thus 

 afforded, by which to distinguish the tree when depriyed of its 

 leaves. The roots, when taken from the earth, are of a beautiful 

 red color ; but they loose this tint upon being split and exposed 

 to the light in a dry place. The concentric layers, and the 

 medullary rays are also observed to be much more distinct in 

 the roots than in the body of the tree. This wood, in seasoning, 

 becomes of a dull red : its grain is fine and close, and it is 

 susceptible of a brighter polish than the wood of the beech, to 

 which it bears some resemblance. Its concentric circles are 

 divided into numerous sections, by fine, medullary rays extending 

 from the centre to the circumference. When a trunk is sawn in 

 a direction parallel to these rays, they appear larger than when 

 it is cut parallel to the concentric circles. It would seem then 

 that the division should be made in the intermediate direction, so 

 that the spots may be of a proper size and at equal distances, 

 which gives an elegant surface to the wood. Cabinet makers 

 rarely make use of this wood, on account of its liability to warp, 

 except for bedsteads, which retain the color of the wood and are 

 coated with varnish. This wood speedily decays when exposed 

 to the atmosphere, hence it is only proper for work that is 

 sheltered from the weather ; when thoroughly seasoned, it may 

 be usefully employed in the interior of houses for joists, and for 

 sheathing the frame. It never is used in naval architecture. 



