Handbook of Trees of the Noktiiern States and Canada. 3G5 



Tlie \\!it(>r <;um nttnins tlir li(>i,i:lit of from 

 50 to 7.") ft., witli trimk usually tai)LM-iiig froiu 

 an enlarged l)ase. It develop.s a ratlier narrow 

 top of many snuill spreading brandies, and, as 

 its name implies, it is confined in its distribu- 

 tion to the immediate vicinity of the water. 

 It occupies deep swamps and tlie margins of 

 ponds and streams in companj' with the Cotton 

 Gum, Cypress, Water, Laurel and Over-cup 

 Oaks, Titi. Plancr-trce, Forestiera, etc. In 

 autumn it is a conspicuous object on account 

 of the purple and red tints assumed by its 

 foliage. 



Its wood is fine-grained, light, tough and 

 dillicult to s]dit and work on account of its 

 contorted and twisted fiber. It is applicable to 

 the same uses as the wood of tlie Sour Oum. 



A forcible anecdote was o:ice toM f e author 



to illustrate the crooke'.iie^s of the grain of 



this wood. It was t;) the efTect that "An 



Irishman was u|) a gum-tree one day when it 



was struck by liglitning, and he hul time to 



climb down before the lig'itriug reached t!:e 



ground, because it had to fillnw the grain.'" 



The truth of the sti>ry was not vouched f.)r. 



Lrnvrs oMancoolate to ohovate and oblons, 

 cuneate at base, ohtuso or acute ( occasionall.v 

 acuminate) at apox. entire, tnmentose at first Ivi't 

 finally lustrous dark frrcpn above, palor beneatli : 

 petioles stont. I'loircrs iwlini Irnves are nearly 

 prowni <in sleixler liairy ixhIhik Ics. 1-1 V> in. loni': 

 tlie pisiillatc (lowers usually in pairs. Fruit in 

 pairs or occasioniilly solitary. '.■•.-'■. in. Ions, dark 

 blue with iuicv acid flesh and distinctly flattened 

 and ribbed stone. 



1. Syi \ i/.ss(t <i:;:!(iti<n L. (in parti. 



