Handbook of Treks of the Northern States and Canada. 



377 



Tlic Woolly IJiimclia is a sin ill nr ini'diuin 

 size troo. occasionally attainiii;L: the iicijj;lit of 

 50 or GO ft. and 2 or :! ft. in tliic-kness of 

 trunk. When isolatetl from other trees it de- 

 velops a rounded or oblong rather open top, of 

 rigid branches, more or less spineseent with 

 thick sharp spines. The birk of trunk is of a 

 brownish gray color, reticulated with firm 

 prominent ridges. 



To the northward in its range it inhabit? 

 usually well-drained gravelly or sandy soil, in 

 company with the Post, ]jlack-Jack, Chin- 

 quapin and other Oaks, Mocker-nut and Shag 

 bark Hickories, Blue Ash, Red-bud, etc., but in 

 the south it occupies moist low-lands, as well 

 as the drier uplands. A gum exudes from it 

 when wounded which gi\es it the name Gum- 

 elastic. It is a clear viscid substance, some- 

 times used domestically. 



Its wood is rather hard and heavy, a cubic 

 foot Aveighing when absolutely dry 40.78 lbs., 

 tough, smooth-grained and of marked charac- 

 teristic structure. 1 



Leavfs raostl.v obovato or olilancoolate, 1-2 Vi in- 

 lonjj. narrow, cunoato at base, rounded or bluntly 

 pointed at apex, woolly tomentose at first but at 

 maturity dark green and glabrous above and 

 donsoly tomentose beneath as are the short 

 potiolcs and all new growth, tardily deciduous. 

 FIniiuix (.Tnly-Au'ust) in usually several-flowered 

 fascicles with pedicels about Vs in. long; calyx 

 witli obtuse or rounded lolies ; staminodia ovate, 

 acnte (limlicniate. Fruit drupe, black. % in. or 

 loss in ]en::tli; seed oblong, rounded at apex, about 

 V4 in. long.- 



Var. rifiidn. Oray. is a form found along the 

 Mexican boundary with rigid spineseent branchlets 

 and smaller thicker leaves. 



\. \. \V., XI. 260. 



2. For genus see p. 4.".:{. 



