Native Trees of Kentucky 



99 



Red Bud Ccrcis canadensis. 



The Red Bud is found lean- 

 ing out from under the shade 

 of taller trees along streams 

 and rich hillsides throughout 

 the State. The wood is weak, 

 close-grained and susceptible 

 of a beautiful polish when sea- 

 soned. The bark and young 

 branches are used to dye wood 

 a nankin color. 



Its tolerance of shade, habit 

 of rapid growth and early 

 blooming earn for it a promi- 

 nent place in park and border 

 plantations. 



The perfect flowers, which appear before the leaves, are ar- 

 ranged in pink purplish clusters along the dark gray branches and 

 far down the trunk. 



Tree small, with flat head and smooth thornless branches. 



Bark red brown, furrowed closely. 



Leaves simple, broadly heart-shaped. 



Fruit flat, smooth pods, green in summer, turning a lustrous 

 purple ; persistent far into winter. 



