Handbook of Trees of the Nokthebn States and Canada. .315 



Tlie Cassena is a beautiful small tree of the 

 coast regions (if tlif soutlicru Atlantic and Gulf 

 Slates, oeeasioiially attaining,' tlie iieight of 20 

 or 30 ft. with Ijioatl rounded top and trunk 

 sometimes 12 or 18 in. Iti diameter, or is often 

 no more than a large slirub. It grows mainly 

 in the humid soil of swamps and about the 

 borders of pine barren ponds in company with 

 the Cypress. Ogechee Lime. Gums, Sweet Bay, 

 Water and Laurel Oaks. Water Hickory, 

 Planer-tree. etc. Rare in the northern part of 

 its range it becomes common southward, reach 

 ing its largest size and abundance in southern 

 Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Iti these re- 

 gions it is often known as Hcnilcrson-icood. 



Its wood is light, a cu. ft. wlien absolutely 

 dry weighing 29.i).'> lbs., tough, close-grained, 

 easily worked and of a ilear ereamj' white 

 color. - 



Insistent. oblanceolatc 



Lcirrs 

 ■^-■.\ in. 1 

 larjiinati 



or o.vovaie. 

 IK', ciincatc at base. ol)tuse or acute or 

 (sometimes rounded or retuse) at apex 



with revolute and entire margins or vei'y re- 

 motely and sliarply aiipressed serrate near apex, 

 thick, shining darlc green above, paler and pubes- 

 cent on midriljs beneath : petioles short, stout and 

 usually pubescent. Flowers white,, scarcely 14 in. 

 broad, in hairy pedunculate clusters from the axils 

 mainly of the leaves of the year, the staminate 

 3-9-flowered and the pistillate usually .3-flowered. 

 common peduncles nearly 1 in. long ; calyx lobes 

 acute, ciliate. Fruit red drupes ripening in au- 

 tumn and persisting tuitil spring. suI)gl(il)ose, 14 

 in. in diameter; nutlets promini'mly ribbed. 



1. Syn. Ilex Dahoon Walt. 

 1'. A. W., XII, 276. 



