36 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



Genus represented by trees and shrubs of which the delicious Avogado or Alligator 

 Pear, the P. gratissima is one representative. (Persea is a classical name of some Oriental 

 sacred tree.) 



264. PERSEA BORBONIA, SPRENG. 

 RED BAY. 



Ger., Rother Lorbeerbaum. Fr., Laurier Rouge. Sp., Laurel Rojo. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : Leaves oblong-lanceolate, about equally pointed at both ends, 

 with entire revolute margins, pilose at first but at maturity lustrous bright green above, 

 paler and glaucous beneath, thick and firm, veins rather obscure and arcuate near the 

 margin; petioles and new growths puberulous or nearly glabrous. Flowers with glabrous 

 peduncles mostly from %-l in. long; calyx pale yellow. Fruit lustrous dark blue, about 

 */2 in. or less in diameter, with thin flesh and red stems. 



The maximum size attained by the Red Bay is about 60 or 70 ft. (20 m.) 

 in height and 3 to 3^ ft. (0.80 m.) in diameter of trunk. This is vested in 

 a grayish brown bark fissured into flat firm ridges. 



HABITAT. - The Red Bay inhabits the coast region from Virginia to 

 southern Florida and westward to the Brazos River in Texas, ranging north- 

 ward west of the Mississippi River into Arkansas. It prefers the moist 

 soil of bottom-lands, swamps and the vicinity of streams, but is occasionally 

 found in dryer situations. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood of moderate hardness and strength, with 

 thin obscure medullary rays and open ducts quite uniformly distributed. 

 It is susceptible of a beautiful polish, and is of a reddish brown color with 

 lighter sap-wood. Specific Gravity, 0.6429; Percentage of Ash, 0.76; 

 Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 0.6380; Coefficient of Elasticity, 83900; 

 Modulus of Rutpre, 902 ; Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 573 ; Resist- 

 ance to Indentation, 199 ; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 40.07. 



USES. Wood used to some extent for interior finishing, cabinet work, 

 etc., but too limited in supply to be of much commercial importance. The 

 tree though ranking high in ornamental value, on account of its excellent 

 habit of growth and shining evergreen foliage, has not attained the value 

 for ornamental planting that it deserves. 



ORDER ULMACE-ffi : ELM FAMILY. 



Leaves simple, alternate: stipules caducous. Flowers perfect or polygamous by abortion, 

 apetalous, in loose clusters, not catkins : calyx somewhat bell-shaped, free from the ovary : 

 stamens springing from the calyx, usually as many as its lobes and opposite them: fila- 

 ments straight, ovary 1-2-celled with a single suspended ovule in each cell; styles or 

 stigmas two. Fruit, a samara or drupe with suspended seed ; no albumen. 



Represented by trees, rarely shrubs. 



