Handbook of Tkees of the Northern States and Canada. 



285 



The Red-bud is a small tree, sometimes in 

 forest growth attaining a height of 40 or 50 

 ft., but when isolated does not attain so great 

 a height and then develops a low wide flat- 

 topped or a rounded head. The trunk is rarely 

 more than 10-12 in. in diameter, clothed in a 

 grayish or reddish brown scaly bark. 



It inhabits the banks of ravines and rich 

 bottom-lands, sometimes forming an under- 

 growth in forests of taller trees, and in early 

 spring its abundant pink llowers make it a 

 beautiful object. Associating as it does with 

 the Flowering Dogwood and flowering at the 

 same season of the year, one rarely sees a 

 more beautiful tloral medley than that pre- 

 sented by these two trees, a bank of Red-bud 

 flowers making a beautiful setting for the large 

 white flower-heads of the Dogwood. In sum- 

 mer its glossy round heart-shaped leaves are 

 unsurpassed in attractiveness by the foliage of 

 any other tree, and it is justly popular for 

 ornamental planting. 



The wood, of which a cubic foot weighs 39.G.5 

 lbs., is of a yellowish brown color with thin 

 sap-wood, and is of little commercial import- 

 ance. 



Leaves cordate-orbicular, 3-5 in. long and broad, 

 truncate or cordate at base, obtuse or acute at 

 apex, entire, thickish, lustrous above, hairy in the 

 axils of the veins beneath, bright yellow in au- 

 tumn. Flowers about % in. long, in sessile um- 

 bels : corolla pink purple. Fruit: pod 2%--iV2 JQ- 

 long, short stalked in the calyx : seeds oblong, 

 Vi in. long! 



1 F 



genus see pp. 441-442. 





