78 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



NATIVE FLOWERrNG PLANTS. 



We mention only a few of them, not for the mere botanist, 

 but for all other readers. Those who want technical terms, 

 are referred to Nuttall's Botany of the United States. 



FAMILY. BOTANICAL NAME. SPECIES. 



Red bud. Cercis. Canadensis. 



This plant is between a shrub and a tree, and it is every 

 where dispersed through the woods, along the Ohio river, and 

 all its tributaries. Whoever sees, but even once, the red-bud, 

 in early spring, will never lose the impression, made on his 

 mind, through the eye. The tree is then, one surface of beau- 

 tiful, red blossoms. It is redder than the peach blossom, which 

 it much resembles, in aspect. Its whole top appears to be one 

 mass of red blossoms, forming a delightful contrast, with the 

 dull, brown woods around it. 



To any lover of nature, who passes along the Ohio river, in 

 a steamer, the red-bud, offers a rich treat, in early spring. In- 

 stantly, almost, after this tree shows its red blossoms, the fami- 

 ly of dogwood, cornus florida, of two varieties, one with white 

 and the other with pale-yellow blossoms, opens its flowers and 

 adds much to the beautiful aspect of the woods. These two 

 trees or shrubs, as we please to call them, are nearly of the 

 same size. One species of dog-wood has a white and the other 

 a pale-yellow flower, and they both expand their large blossoms, 

 about the same time. Thus, we have red, white and yellow 

 flowers, in every direction in the woods, at the same time. At 

 a distance, each tree resembles in aspect, so many large 

 bunches of flowers every where dispersed in the woods. 



In autumn, the red-bud, is loaded with its pods, filled with 

 seeds. The pods, siliquae, are about as large as the pods of 

 a small bean, whereas, the cornus, is loaded with red berries, 

 rivalling in its aspect, the red-bud, in spring. Thus each tree, 

 takes its turn, in wearing its beautiful scarlet livery. 



Several birds live on the berries of the cornus florida in win- 

 ter, and man uses the bark of its roots, as a medicine. It is 

 denominated the " yellow bark," and is as valuable, as the quin- 



