204 A NATURALIST IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION 



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bark of the walnut has high 

 ridges inclosing diamond- 

 shaped areas. The pith of 

 the twig is divided into 

 numerous compartments by 

 cross-partitions. The bark of 

 the black cherry is broken 

 into irregular polygonal areas 

 by numerous cracks and so 

 has something of the appear- 

 ance of alHga tor-skin leather; 

 the buds and twigs are bitter, 

 tasting much hke cherry pits. 

 The bark of the hackberry has 

 numerous high, corky, verti- 

 cal ridges on it, while the bark of the sycamore scales off in flakes, 

 showing light patches through the otherwise greenish brown bark. 



Fig. 248. — Trunk of the black cherry, 

 Prunus serotina. 



Fig. 249. — Hackberry trunk, Celtis occidentalis, and trunk of beech (at right) 



