263 



4-large white or pinkish bracts; the mature bracts are obovate, 2-4 cm. 

 long, notched at the apex, appear before the leaves in April or May; 

 flowers are in a head, numerous, small and greenish, opening usually 

 about the middle of May as the leaves appear or even when the leaves 

 are one-third grown; fruit ripens in September or October, an ovoid 

 red drupe about 1 cm. long, usually about 3-5 flowers of a head mature 

 fruit; stone elliptic and pointed at each end. 



Distribution. Southern Maine, southern Ontario, southern Mich- 

 igan, to Missouri and south to Florida and west to Texas. Found in all 

 parts of Indiana. Frequent to very common in all beech-sugar maple 

 woods of the State. It is very rare or absent in the prairie area of the 

 northwest part of the State, although it has been found in upland 

 woods in all of the counties bordering Lake Michigan. It is also a fre- 

 quent or more common tree in most parts of the State associated with 

 white oak, or in the southern part of the State with black and white oak. 

 It prefers a dry habitat, and is rarely found in wet situations. 



Remarks. Wood hard, heavy, strong, close-grained and takes a 

 high polish. The Indians made a scarlet dye from the roots. It was 

 used much by the pioneers for wedges, mallets and handles for tools. 

 The trees are so small that they do not produce much wood. The 

 present supply is used principally for shuttles, golfheads, brush blocks, 

 engraver's blocks, etc. 



The mature fruit is much relished by squirrels and birds. 



The tree is quite conspicuous in the flowering season, and when the 

 fruit is maturing. These features recommend it for ornamental plant- 

 ing, and it is used to some extent. The tree has a flat crown, and is 

 quite shade enduring. It is very difficult ^o transplant, and when the 

 tree is transplanted, if possible, some earth taken from under a live dog- 

 wood tree, should be used to fill in the hole where it is planted. 



ERICACEAE. THE HEATH FAMILY. 



Oxydendrum arboreum (Linnaeus) DeCandolle. SOUR WOOD. 

 SORREL TREE. Plate 122. Small trees with a gray and deeply fissured 

 bark, much resembling that of a young sweet gum tree; twigs and 

 branchlets greenish and smooth; leaves alternate, on petioles about a 

 cm. long, oblong-oval, generally 10-15 cm. long, narrowed at the base, 

 acute or acuminate at the apex, margins entire toward the base or 

 sometimes all over, usually about three-fourths is irregularly serrate 

 with very short incurved teeth, glabrous above and beneath except a 

 puberulence on the midrib and sometimes on the petiole to which an 

 occasional prickle is added beneath; flowers appear in June when the 

 leaves are full grown, in large panicles at the end of the year's growth, 



