o62 AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



George B. Sudworth, dendrologist of the United States Forest Service, 

 who usually describes in strictly prosaic terms, breaks away from that 

 habit long enough to compare madrona flowers to lilies of the valley, 

 in his "Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope." The flowers appear from 

 March to May, depending on latitude and elevation. 



The brilliant orange-red fruit ripens in -the fall, and is often borne 

 in great abundance. It renders the crowns of the trees very beautiful. 

 The fruit is about half an inch long and contains many small angular 

 seeds. The fruit is said to contain a substance which puts to sleep wild 

 creatures that feed on it. The claim is probably mythical, for birds 

 breakfast extravagantly on it in the morning, and apparently do not do 

 any sleeping until after sunset. 



This tree was discovered by and named for Archibald Menzies, a 

 Scotch botanist who traveled in the Northwest more than a hundred 

 years ago. It has several local names, among them being madrove, 

 laurel wood, madrone-tree, laurel, and manzanita. The last is the 

 proper name of another small tree which is associated with madrona and 

 is closely related to it. 



The wood weighs 43.95 pounds per cubic foot. It is a little below 

 eastern white oak in fuel value, a little above it in strength, and some- 

 what under it in stiffness. The color is pale reddish-brown, resembling 

 applewood in tone, but generally not quite so dark. The wood is porous, 

 but the pores are very small. Medullary rays are numerous but thin. 

 On account of the rays being of a little deeper red than the other wood, 

 quarter-sawed stock is handsome and of somewhat peculiar appear- 

 ance. The figure is much like quarter-sawed beech, but of deeper, 

 more handsome color. The contrast between springwood and sum- 

 merwood is not strong, though easily seen. Generally, the summer- 

 wood constitutes about one-fourth of the annual ring. The tree grows 

 slowly, but with much irregularity. The increase in one season may 

 be four or five times as great as in another. The bark exfoliates, and 

 is quite thin. 



Madrona has never been put to much use. Difficulties in seasoning 

 it have stood in the way. The wood warps and checks. Similar 

 difficulties with other woods have been overcome, and such troubles 

 should not be unduly discouraging. The beauty of the wood is unques- 

 tioned. It presents a fine appearance when worked into furniture, 

 particularly in small panels and turned work, like spindles, knobs, and 

 small posts. When made into grills it shows a surprising richness of 

 tone. The wood polishes almost to the smoothness of holly. Small 

 quantities are made into flooring; a little goes to the furniture makers; 

 lathes turn some of it for novelties and souvenirs; fuel cutters sell it as 



