110 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
Gymnocladus canadensis, Kentucky coffee tree. Used as a substi- 
tute for coffee during the Revolutionary War. 
Humulus Lupulus, common hop. Seed pods used in brewing of beer. 
Sassafras officinale, sassafras, Used as a substitute for tea in the 
southern states. 
WHITE RED-BUD 
One of the most unusual spring-flowering trees in the 
Garden is the new white variety of red-bud (Cercis cana- 
densis var. alba). This rare and most interesting deviation 
from the type species originated in the old nursery of John 
Teas and Son, Carthage, Mo. In 1903 a small plant was 
purchased from Mr. Teas for trial at the Garden to ascertain 
whether the white color was fixed. Repeated observations 
have proved the fixed character of the flower, also the foliage, 
which is a much lighter green upon the upper surface of the 
leaves than the usual type, and the absence of the reddish 
coloration of both petioles and peduncles, further confirm- 
ing the fact that this plant is an albino. This latter factor 
permits segregation from the type species when the tree is 
not in bloom. 
In view of the abandonment of the old Teas nursery, the 
remainder of the stock was purchased in 1920, thus placing 
the entire original stock in the Garden collection. Seven 
plants were received, only one of which showed a slight 
coloration in the leaf petioles, the tree producing light pink 
flowers this spring. 
Description of horticultural white-flowering form of Cercis 
canadensis.—Height of original plant twelve feet, with broad 
flat head of slender, smooth, thornless, angular branchlets. 
Bark reddish brown, furrowed deeply and closely, broken into 
small scaly plates; twigs light green. Wood heavy, hard, 
close-grained, weak, red-brown. Buds inconspicuous, axillary, . 
sealy, blunt. Leaves simple, entire, broadly heart-shaped or 
ovate, alternate, deciduous, on long, slender, smooth petioles 
which are enlarged at the apex; autumn color yellow. Flowers 
bloom in April before leaves appear, in axillary fascicles, 
pea-like, half an inch long, white, numerous, very striking 
when planted in association with the type species. Fruit, a 
pod, thin, pointed, flat, smooth, green, stalked, two to three 
inches long; original specimen rarely produces seed pods. 
