FOREST-TREES OF THE UNITED STATES. 21 



No. 219. Poisonia obtmata, Swartz. South Florida. A small tree of 

 Florida and the West Indies. 



POLYGONACE^E. 



No. 220. Coccoloba uvifera, Jacq. Sea-side Grape. South Florida. 

 This and the following species are low and spreading trees, along the 

 coast in Florida and the West Indies. It is remarkable for the grape- 

 like clusters of pear-shaped purple berries, which have an agreeable 

 subacid taste, and which are much employed. The wood is heavy, hard, 

 and valuable for cabinet-work. 



No. 221. Coccoloba Floridana, Meisner. Sea-side Grape. South Flor- 

 ida. 



LAURACE^E. 



No. 222. Persea Carolinensis, Nees. Red Bay. Southern States. 

 This species occurs from Southern Virginia to Florida and the Gulf States. 

 It is found in the vicinity of swamps and swampy river-borders. In 

 favorable situations, it grows to 50 or 60 feet high and 15 to 20 inches in 

 diameter. The leaves are large, shining, and evergreen. The wood is 

 of a beautiful rose-color, of a fine, compact grain, and finishes almost 

 equal to mahogany. 



No. 223. Persea Catesbyana, Chap. Catesby's Bay. South Florida. 



No. 224. Sassafras officinale, Nees. Sassafras. Eastern United States. 

 This tree is found over a large portion of the United States. It is usu- 

 ally a small tree, but sometimes attains a large size. The wood is not 

 very strong, but is fine-grained and durable. It is valuable for cabinet- 

 work. The bark of the root has a spicy, aromatic taste, and has some 

 reputation as a medicine. 



No. 225. Oreodaphne Californica. California Myrtle. California and 

 Oregon. The California Laurel is a fine ornamental evergreen tree, grow- 

 ing in open places from 50 to 60 feet high. In thick woods, it has been 

 found shooting up to 100 or 120 feet. The leaves have a very pungent 

 odor, which produces headache in some persons. The wood is very 

 beautiful, and is used for fine cabinet-work. 



ELEAGNACE.E. 



No. 226. Shepherdia argentea. Buffalo-berry. Rocky Mountains. A 

 large shrub or small tree^ growing in thickets on the banks of streams 

 in the Rocky Mountain valleys. The scarlet berries have an agreeable 

 taste, and are employed as food by the natives. 



EUPHORBIACEJE. 



No. 227. Hippomane Mancinella, L. Manchineel. South Florida. 



No. 228. Stillingia sebifera, Michx. Tallow-tree. Naturalized in the 

 Southern States. The Tallow-tree is a native of China, but has become 

 extensively naturalized in the East and West Indies, and also in sev- 

 eral of the Southern States along the sea-coast. In its native country, 

 its seeds and pods are bruised and then boiled, which causes a kind of 

 tallow to rise to the surface. This tallow is much employed in making 

 candles. 



No. '229.Ejcccecaria lucida, Swartz. Poison-wood. South Florida. 



