.^-^^^sft^.^ ^-m><i^' 





SILVERBELL {Halesia Carolina L.) 



THIS tree occurs in its best development in the 

 Great Smoky Mountains, but extends through- 

 out the whole mountainous region. 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 along the upper watercourses. It is occasion- 

 ally planted, as it makes a desirable ornamental tree. 



The leaves arc 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 



\ -Wy/ U i ( \i^' young trees to a very dark 



I \\\ \Xf ^ reddish brown in old 



tt \^7 /^U- trees. It separates into 



^ R ^)l\^^fev 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 pendent, 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 ino)iticola Sarg. 



SILVERBELL 



Leaf, one-half natural size. 



Twig, one-third natural size. 



74 



