H 



ANDBOOK OF TlfKK.S OK TIIK 



!X(ii; 111 I i;,\ Stai-i:s axd (\\xai>a. 



39 



This valualili' and niajostic tree oeeasioiiallv 

 attains tlie lieiyiil (if l.')ll ft. willi a trunk S or 

 10 ft. in dianieli'r. W lien vmnif,' it lievi'lop,^ 

 a symmetrieal |iyraniiilal tii|i with npturnoil 

 branches and ilruc>[iin^ liranelilets, hut the ohl 

 forest monarchs are nuiie like inverted pj ra 

 niids in shapi'. with wiile and Hat nr slij,'htly 

 rounded tops iiarowiiiL; down to hmj; naked 

 trunks, its trunk is verv wide and strongly 

 buttressed at base, espeeially when growing in 

 water or wet Uiealities, and there it also sends 

 up from its roots steeple-sliaped projections 

 known as " knees." the functions of which 

 seem to l)e mechanical — to anchor the tree 

 more hrmly in the loose soil in whicli it grows. 

 In the southern part of its range it oi-cupies 

 vast tracts of swampy lands, eitlier forming 

 nearly exclusive forests or in company with tiie 

 Tupelos, Sweet Gum, Water Locust. Red Bay. 

 etc. To the northward it is less abundant and 

 is found in company with various swamp 

 loving trees. 



Its wood, of which a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighs 28.31 lbs., is one of the great 

 resources of the southern states being highly 

 valued for railway ties, posts, shingies. lumber 

 for general construction jnirposes, etc. Tts 

 great durability, immunity from tlie alticks of 

 parasites and non-lialiilily to great shrinking 

 or warping make it one of iMir mo^t \aliiable 

 woods for all wood-work exposed (o the 

 weather, for tank construction, cori|ieragc, etc. 

 its value fiu- the latter use is enhanced by its 

 ciunparative freedom from cidoring ov Iknor- 

 ing ingredients. 1 



Lrarrs V-'-% in- l"ug, tlon, apicuhUcd, rather 

 Itffht vellow sreen. decldmins and furmini; a Ihll 

 sprav "of w-hicli the liranclilcis ar.' also diM-iiiuous : 

 slKirtcr srale-liki' Icavi's cm lle_w•erin^' liranches. 

 fliiircrs: stamiiialc in paiiirirs 4-:. in. lens;: llewer- 

 bnds nearlv N in. len^'. pnr]ilr at matiii-ity. Colics 

 subcilobosc^ alKMil 1 in. in diainrlrr. usuall.v tew 

 together at I lie end et ihr braiicli.- 



1. A. W ., \ . 1 1'.). 



2. For genus see p. 421. 



