180 



REDBUD. 



Cercis canadensis, Linnaeus. 



GENUS DESCRIPTION This genus comprises 7 species of small trees and shrubs found in 

 parts of Asia, Europe and North America. Three species are native to North America, 1 

 inhabiting California, 1 Mexico and Texas, and 1 eastern United States. The latter is native 

 to Pennsylvania and described here. They are prized mainly on account of their ornamental value 

 due to their bright rose-colored, pea-like flowers which cover the branches with a profuse and 

 brilliant flame of color in early spring before the leaves come out. 



FORM A small tree usually about 15-20 ft. high with a diameter of 6 inches but may reach a 

 height of 50 ft. with a diameter of 18 inches. Trunk short bearing rather upright branches 

 which form a shallow and broad crown. 



BARK Thin, shallowy fissured separating ridges which peel off into numerous scales, reddish- 

 brown to very dark brown. See Fig. 56. 



TWIGS Slender, smooth, light brown, becoming grayish-brown, covered with numerous very 

 small lenticels, containing pith which sometimes has reddish longitudinal streaks. 



BUDS Alternate; terminal one absent; small, i of an inch long, blunt-pointed, dark purplish- 

 red, spherical or somewhat flattened when appressed. Sometimes superposed with upper one 

 usually the larger, or clustered at the base of a lateral branch, covered with 2-3 visible scales 

 with hairy margin. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, rounded or heart-shaped, 3-5 inches long, conspicuously 5-7 

 nerved, cordate at base, pointed at apex, entire on margin. 



LEAF-SCABS Alternate, 2-ranked, inversely triangular to heart-shaped, somewhat raised, 

 containing 3 conspicuous bundle-scars. Short spreading ridges often originate at outer margin 

 of the leaf-scars and extend down the stem for a short distance. 



FLOWERS Appear ir March or April before the leaves or sometimes when the leaves are 

 just appearing. Resemble the sweet pea in form; perfect and brilliant red, borne usually 

 in clusters of 4-8, often developing from buds located at the base of lateral branches as well as 

 from buds located along the branches. 



FRUIT A small, rose-colored to light brown, short-stalked pod, 25-3 inches long, about i of 

 an Inch wide, containing about 6 broadly ovate, flattened, light-brown seeds. Pods may persist 

 until early winter and are often produced in enormous quantities. 



WOOD Ring-porous; heavy, hard, not strong, rich dark reddish-brown with light sapwood. 

 Weighs 39.65 Ibs. per cubic foot. Not found on the market. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Redbud, also known as the Wild Pea, and Judas 

 Tree, can be distinguished by its simple alternate and heart-shaped leaves, its slender unarmed and 

 light brown twigs with reddish-streaked pith, its small, thin, leathery fruit-pods, and its perfect, 

 pea-like, brilliant red blossoms which occur in clusters of 4-8, appearing in early spring before 

 the leaves j=nd developing from a cluster of buds located at the base of a lateral branch as 

 well as from buds located along the twigs. This is the only tree native to this State which 

 develops a cluster of purplish flower buds on a branch just below the origin of a lateral twig. 



RANGE Ontario through New Jersey to Florida, westward to Minnesota and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Not known to occur in the northern or eastern parts 

 of the State. Reported from the southeastern, southern, central and western parts. Common 

 in the Schuylkill and Perkiomen Valleys and along parts of the Susquehanna River Valley, 

 especially northwest aud southeast of Harrisburg. Common about Gettysburg, and south of 

 Cbambtrsburg in the Cumberland Valley. Occurs in a dense pure stand covering about one 

 acre southwest of Gettysburg. 



HABITAT Prefers rich moist soils. Common in abandoned fields, cut-over and open wood- 

 lands. Also found in the understory of the forest. Endures shade but prefers plenty of light. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This tree is of no commercial importance as a forest tree 

 but where a tall shrub or a small tree is desired for ornamental planting hardly a more 

 attractive one could be found. It has a pleasing form at all seasons of the year, an exceptionally 

 beautiful and abundant bloom in spring before the leaves com* out, and in addition, grows 

 rapidly. It is cultivated extensively in Europe as an ornamental tree. 



