10 



J Polygoxiaseae 



The Sea^-Grajje Tree 

 GoGQoloba uvifera L. 3yst. 10, 1007 - 1758 -59. 



Desoription of the tree 



A tree, up to 18 ra. high and 40 cm. in diameter, the 

 trunk straight or twisted, erect or decumbent, covered '.vith 

 a reddish, more or less scaly bark, the crown irregular. 

 Leaves alternate, thick, coriaceous, glabrous, the petioles 

 broad, about 8 mm. long, the blade orbicular or broader than 

 long, emarginate at the base, 10 to 12 cm. long, 15 to 18 cm. 

 borad, the costa prominent on both sides; stipules short, 

 clasping (2 adnate), glabrous, ilacemes simple, slender, 

 subpendulous, up to 30 cm. long, the rachis pubescent, 

 surrounded at the base with glabrous bracts, ^'lowers fas- 

 ciculate, the pedicels articulate at the middle, 2 to 4 mm. 

 long; perianth 5-lobalate, about 3.5 mm. in diameter, the 

 tube turbinate, the lobes greenish; stamens 3 to 9; ovary 

 subglobose, sessile; styles 3. Berries purplish, succulent, 

 ovoid or globose, 1-seeded, 1.5 to 2 cm. in diameter. 



Description of the V/ood 



Sapwood fairly thick, very light red; heartv/ood darker 

 colored, occasionally with nearly black linear markings, 

 giving it a pleasing effect in cabinet work. ,7ood very hard, 

 heavy, strong, very close grained, taking an excellent polish. 

 Annual rings of growth not visible in most samples of this 

 wood , 



Pores (transverse secticii) very few, small (.125 rttn, in 

 tangential diameter); open or'occasionally closed, radially 

 elongated and arranged singly or in radial rows of frosn 2 to 

 4. Vessel walls (longitudinal section) thin with numerous 

 small bordered pits where in contact with pith-ray cells 

 and wood-parenchyma fibers. Ends of vessel segments wholely 

 absorbed, //ood fibers about.. 7583 mm. long, and with thin 

 v/alls and relatively large cell cavities. The pits are few, 

 small and simple. ',;ood -parenchyma fibers doaree and present 



