BLUE 261 



scallop the edge of the cup. The flesh of the 

 drupe is rather thin and the stone large. The 

 cotyledons are large and fleshy. The fruits grow 

 singly or in small clusters from the base of the 

 season's shoots. The fruit is eaten by birds, but 

 is unpleasantly spicy. August. 



Leaves. On the mature trees, oval leaves 

 predominate. The young shoots bear oval 

 leaves ; leaves with a lobe at one side, looking 

 like the thumb of a mitten ; or three-lobed 

 leaves, with two lateral lobes and a terminal 

 one. The hollows of the lobed leaves are 

 rounded. The young leaves are reddish but 

 become dark green above with a lighter lower 

 surface. The leaves and twigs are mucilaginous. 

 Yellow and orange are the fall colors. 



Flowers. The greenish yellow dioecious flow- 

 ers grow in drooping many-flowered racemes. 



Sassafras and Spice Bush are our only repre- 

 sentatives of a large family that, in the tropics, 

 include plants that yield cinnamon, camphor, 

 and several differently scented woods. The 

 Laurel or Bay Tree, whose leaves were used by 

 the ancients in making wreaths with which to 

 crown their heroes, is also a member of this 

 family. 



