HaNDHOOK of TkKKS ok TIIK NoH rilKlf.N SlAl'KS 



Canada. 323 



Tlie interest iiii,' W'alioo is a small tree, only 

 under the most favorable conditions attaining 

 the height of 20 or 25 ft. with a trunk (i to 8 

 in. in diameter, vested in a smoothish mottled 

 gray bark. When isolated from other trees 

 it develops a wide fiat top of slender spread 

 ing branches. Trees of this species, liowever. 

 are rare and confined mainly to the southern 

 and western parts of its range. Klsewhere it 

 is usually a shrub rather than a tree. 



Its quite ordinary foliage and flat unassum- 

 ing flowers scarcely attract attention during 

 the summer season, but on the ap))roac]i of 

 autumn, when its leaves assume a jjale yellow 

 color and its singular scarlet j)urple fruit dan- 

 gles from each branchlet, it is an object of 

 conspicuous beauty, and we see in it tlien the 

 aptness its occasional names " HKniiiig-bunh " 

 and *' Hleeding-heart Tree," as its opening fruit 

 reveals its blood-red contents. 



The wood is rather heavy, a en. ft. weighing 

 when absolutely dry 41.08 lbs., hard and close- 

 grained. 



Ltdns d('ci(hii)iis. mostly oblon,!,'. l!-.") in. Ion.:;. 

 taperinj? at liasc and ai-iuninate or acute at aiiex. 

 finely crenati'-scrratc. rather thin, pubescent, paler 

 beneath : petioles aljout % in. long : branchlets 

 usually more or less 4-angred. Floirrrs about i/. 

 in. across in 7-1.5-flowered trichotomous cymes 

 with slender peduncles ; petals purple, obovate, un- 

 dulate ; anthers purple. Fruit ripe in October and 

 often persisting into the winter about % in. across, 

 deeijjy .■!-4-lobed, smooth, light purple ; seed about 

 Vi in. long and covered with a thin scarlet aril.' 



1. For genus see p. 44(1. 



