The Trees of Wyoming. 93 



the eastern and central United States. Throughout that 

 region it is very abundant but it just comes into our range 

 on the eastern border of the state. On the Platte and its 

 tributaries and in Crook and Weston counties it is known 

 to occur. It is the largest of the Cottonwoods and may 

 easily be known by its leaves and the ''necklace-like" 

 fruits as well as by the bark which is roughened by 

 oblique furrows, and is nearly uniform in color through- 

 out. 



Like the preceding it is used to some extent for fuel 

 and other domestic purposes but the wood is soft and 

 weak and not very highly valued. 



(4) BALM OF GILEAD. 



(Popuhis balsamifera Linn.) 



Description. Leaves ovate, tap- 

 ering gradually to the acute apex, 

 smooth and green above, whitish 

 beneath, finely scalloped on the 

 margins: buds large, coated with 

 resinous, glutinous gum (see Plate 

 XX, Fig. I): bark smooth on 

 young trees, somewhat roughened 

 on the old, darker in color than in 

 the Lanceleaf Cottonwood which 

 also has nearly smooth bark. 



This species is of rather rare occurence in Wyoming. 

 Its range is eastward and northward in the United States 

 and Canada where, in favorable situations, it attains a large 

 size. It seeks sheltered localities on the banks of small 

 lakes and streams. It may be expected in such situations 

 in all parts of this state, though it is never found in abun- 

 dance usually scattering trees or small groves only. With 

 us it has little economic importance except as a shade or 

 ornamental tree. Its large resinous buds, leaves shiny 

 above and whitish beneath, and bark comparatively smooth 

 will enable anyone to know this tree. 



