132 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



swamp Huckleberry, are in large loose clusters, which 

 hang in profusion over the branches with somewhat 

 of a plume-like grace, and make this tree one of the 

 ornaments of our woods. 



Loblolly Bay. (Gordonia Lasianthus, Linn.) — 

 This pretty tree, belonging to the family of the Ca- 

 mellias^ belongs within the range of the Long-leaved 

 Pine, and is there confined, I think, to the branch- 

 swamps and bays w^ithin 100 miles of the coast. It 

 is from 50 to 70 feet high, with a diameter of 18 to 

 24 inches. When young, it is of a fine pyramidal 

 form; but with age the branches spread irregularly, 

 and the top, owing possibly to the brittleness of the 

 wood, seems subject to early decay. The leaves are 

 evergreen, with sharply toothed edges. The flowers 

 are about 2 inches broad, white, and somewhat fra- 

 grant, and young trees in blossom are very attractive. 

 The wood is of rosy hue, of fine texture and silky 

 lustre, but is light and brittle, and subject to rapid 

 decay, unless kept perfectly dry. The bark is valua- 

 ble for tanning, but is not abundant enough for ex- 

 tensive use. The fruit is a small, dry, woody capsule, 

 i to I inch long. 



Snow Drop Tree. (Halesia tetraptera, Linn.) — 

 Found but a short distance beyond the northern line 

 of this State. In our Lower District it is very spar- 

 ingly distributed. In the Middle District I have not 

 seen it east of Surry and Mecklenburg, but from 

 thence westward to Cherokee it is not uncommon 

 along water courses, especially above that part of 



