TT. 



Noir 



Sta 



The interesting Wahoo is a small tree, only 

 under the most favorable conditions attaining 

 the height of 20 or 25 ft. with a trunk 6 to 8 

 in. in diameter, vested in a sinoothish mottled 

 gray bark. When isolated from other trees 

 it develops a wide Hat top of slender spread- 

 ing branches. Trees of this species, however, 

 are rare and confined mainly to the southern 

 and western parts of its range. Elsewhere it 

 is usually a shrub rather than a tree. 



Its quite ordinary foliage and flat unassum- 

 ing flowers scarce!}' attract attention during 

 the summer season, but on the approach of 

 autumn, when its leaves assume a pale yellow 

 color and its singular scarlet purple fruit dan- 

 gles from each branchlet, it is an object of 

 conspicuous beauty, and we see in it then the 

 aptness its occasional names " Burning-hush " 

 and " Bleeditig-heart Tree," as its opening fruit 

 reveals its blood-red contents. 



The wood is rather heavy, a cu. ft. weighing 

 when absolutely dry 41.08 lbs., hard and close- 

 grained. 



Leaves deciduous, mostly oblong. 2-."> in. louir. 

 tapering at base and acuminato or acute at apex, 

 finely crenate-serrate. rather thin, pubescent, paler 

 beneath ; petioles about % in. long ; branchlets 

 usually more or less 4-angled. Flotrers about % 

 in. across in 7-l.")-flowered trichotomous cymes 

 •with slender peduncles ; petals purple, obovate, un- 

 dulate ; anthers purple. Fruit ripe in October and 

 often persisting into the winter about '/j in. across, 

 deeply .■5-4-lnbpd. smooth, light purple ; seed about 

 % in. long and covered with a thin scarlet aril.* 



1. For genus -see p. 446. 



