. f^<-f^-^ -e> -m^-^i^' 



-e> -#^<K?:|>- 



^> -;?^'0S^-^ -e> ■ 



SILVERBELL 



(Halesia Carolina L.) 



TTHIS tree occurs in its best development in the 

 mountains of the State but is common also 

 through the Piedmont section. It attains a height 

 of about 100 feet and a diameter of 30 inches or 

 more, but only in favorable localities does it grow 

 large enough for commercial use. It is commonly 

 found among the upper watercourses. It is occasion- 

 ally planted, as it makes a desirable ornamental tree. 



SILVTERiBELL 

 Leaf, one-half natural size. 

 Twig, one-third natural size. 



The leaves are simple, opposite, oval, pointed, thin, 

 finely toothed, and vary in length from 4 to 6 

 inches. 



The bark ranges in color from very light gray in 

 young trees to a very dark reddish brown in old 

 trees. It separates into scales and strips as the 

 tree grows older. 



The flowers are white or sometimes tinged with 

 pink, nearly an inch long, and appear in early spring 

 with the unfolding of the leaves. The pendant, 

 bell-like flowers suggest the names silverbell and 

 snowdrop tree. The fruit is from 1 to 2 inches long 

 and nearly an inch wide, with a corky, four-winged 

 covering. The solitary seed is a bony stone. 



The wood is soft, light cherry-colored streaked 

 with white ; the sapwood is white or creamy. Where 

 large enough, it is cut for lumber and used as a sub- 

 stitute for cherry. 



The large commercial tree is by some considered 

 a separate species, Halesia monticola Sarg. 



78 



