TREES GROWING NEAR WATER. 47 



on its branches and then darting in and out as though en- 

 couraging it not to lose a gleam of sunshine or the softest mur- 

 mur from the stream. The long, cylindrical bunches of fleecy 

 blossoms are very pretty, but they quite pale before the exqui- 

 site fruit which shows many shades of colour before settling 

 down to the dark crimson or, rarely, yellow of ripeness. It pro- 

 vides, in fact, a much better feast for the eye than it does for 

 the palate, and although the experience of tasting is not harmful, 

 it is one that is not apt to be soon repeated. 



BUTTON-WOOD. PLANE-TREE. BUTTON-BALL TREE. 



{Plate XIII.) 



Plat anus occidentdlis. 



Outer bark : dark brown; thin; peeling off freely and showing the silver white 

 and polished inner bark ; often presenting a mottled appearance. Leaf-buds: 

 axillary and concealed throughout the summer and winter under the hollow 

 base of the leaf petioles and being thus protected until the next spring. Stipules: 

 like sheaths. Leaves ; simple ; alternate ; with downy petioles ; orbicular, with 

 taper-pointed apex and squared or cordate base. The edge coarsely toothed or 

 often three to five-lobed ; the sinuses between them rounded. The leaves and 

 petioles become smooth at maturity. Fiotuers : small, in round heads; monoe- 

 cious. Fruit: growing closely in solitary round balls which hang from the ends 

 of lony wiry peduncles. They become dry and remain on the branches until 

 well on into the winter, or until their seeds are scattered by the wind. 



About this striking tree there is an almost matchless dignity, 

 and its bearing, so different from that of any other, has caused 

 it to be very generally known. On all sides we hear it said, 

 " that is a sycamore." Unfortunately this name is, although in 

 error, most commonly used. We should, however, accustom 

 ourselves to calling it by another of its English names. The 

 tree at times grows to a height unrivalled by any of the 

 Northeastern American forests, and it lives to be very old. An 

 unusual feature about it is the way in which the outer bark 

 peels off as the season advances and displays the polished 

 inner bark. As it then raises these white almost spotless 

 branches upward, it seems as though the tree in mute elo- 



