204 



NATURALIST IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION 



bark of the walnut has high 

 ridges inclosing diamond- 

 shaped areas. The pith of 

 the twig is divided into 

 numerous compartments by 

 cross-partitions. The bark of 

 the black cherry is broken 

 into irregular polygonal areas 

 by numerous cracks and so 

 has something of the appear- 

 ance of alligator-skin leather; 

 the buds and twigs are bitter, 

 tasting much like cherry pits. 

 The bark of the hackberry has 

 numerous high, corky, verti- 

 cal ridges on it, while the bark of the sycamore scales off in flakes, 

 showing light patches through the otherwise greenish brown bark. 



FIG. 248. Trunk of the black cherry 

 Primus serotina. 



FIG. 249. Hackberry trunk, Celtis occidentalis , and trunk of beech (at right) 



