The Trees of Texas 141 



neath. Bract rather large, the peduncle decurrent almost to 

 the base. Fruit hairy. In woods New Brunswick to Manitoba, 

 south to Georgia and west to North Dakota and Texas. 



The wood is soft, tough, light, and is used in quantities for 

 furniture and in carpentry. There is no merchantable supply 

 produced in Texas. 



2. Tilia leptophylla (Vant.) Small. A medium sized for- 

 est tree with smooth bark and slender twigs. Leaves thin, 

 ovate, long pointed, toothed, smooth above, more or less hairy 

 beneath. Bracts sessile or almost so. Fruit globose, hairy. 



In Louisiana and Texas extending north to Missouri. 



BUETTNERIACEAE H. B. K. Chocolate Family. 



Firmiana Marsigli. Japanese Varnish Tree. 



Firmiana platanifolia (L.) R. Brown. A shrub or small 

 round topped tree 30-35 high with smooth bark and stout 

 green twigs. Leaves large, alternate, 3-5 lobed, smooth dark 

 green above, hairy and paler beneath. Flowers greenish in 

 clusters. Fruit a capsule which opens at maturity into five 

 leathery follicles exposing the seeds. 



Natives of Asia introduced into our area and planted for 

 ornament. 



TAMARICACEAE Lindley. Tamarisk Family. 



Tamarix L. 



Tamarix gallica L. Tamarisk. Salt Cedar. A shrub or 

 low tree with spreading, wand-like branches and numerous 

 branchlets. Leaves scale-like, clasping or sheathing. Flow- 

 ers pink in dense plume-like clusters. Fruit a pyramidal- 

 shaped capsule. 



Native of southern Europe, introduced and growing spon- 

 taneously in our area, especially near the coast. Cultivated 

 for ornament. 



LAURACEAE Lindley. Laurel Family. 

 Aromatic trees or shrubs with simple, alternate, opposite 



