118 TIMBEK TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA, 



appear before the leaves in spring in drooping cylindrical catkins, 

 the sterile and fertile on separate individuals. The fruit is a 

 catkin consisting of small dry capsules with minute seeds, coated 

 with cottony down. The buds are conical and slightly downy. 



The wood is light, soft, not strong, close-grained, and compact; 

 light brown in color ; the sapwood nearly white. It is used for 

 wood ]Milp, and occasionally for turner}^ and woodenware. 



Populns heterophylla, Linnsus. 



(UOTTONWOOD.) 



A rare and local tree, with oval-oblong crown, dark gray bark, 

 and lighter colored branches, reaching a height of 90 and a diam- 

 eter of 3 feet. 



It occurs on the Ijorders of river swamps from Connecticut, gen- 

 erally near tlie coast, to Georgia and western Louisiana, and in 

 Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and I)idiana, reaching 

 its best development in the basin of the lower Ohio river. 



In this State, where it attains an average height of TO to 80 

 feet, it is found in the rich swamp lands of the lower Cape Fear 

 river, and probably elsewhere. 



The leaves are ovate, serrate with blunt incurved teeth, and 

 downy on the veins beneath. 



The wood is light, soft, not strong, close-grained, compact ; dull 

 brown in color ; the thick sapwood lighter. 



Populus monilifera, Aiton. 



(CAROLINA POPLAR. CAROLINA OOTTONWCOD.) 



A large tree, with dark brown rough bark and oval crown, 

 reaching a height of 170 and a diameter of 8 feet. 



It occurs from Vermont to Florida, and westward to Montana, 

 Colorado, and New Mexico, growing in low moist soil. It is com- 

 mon in the West. 



In this State, where it reaches an average height of 60 to 70 

 feet, it is rare, ard is found in the Piedmont plateau. 



It bears seed frequently in North Carolina but never abund- 



