H A^DUOOK 



OF 



Tuits OK Tin-: Xoi;tiiki;x States and C'a.xada. 283 



This is one of the ninst valuable trees of the 

 American forests, sometimes attaining the 

 height of 80-100 ft., «ith straiglit columnar 

 scvily-barl-ced trunk 3-.") ft. in tliicl<ncss. When 

 isolated it develops an oblong or rounded top 

 of slender rigid branches, and growing alike on 

 drv gravelly slopes and moist intervales it is 

 one of the chief elements of many tracts of 

 forests of the Appalachian regions. Its (lowers 

 appear later than those of other representa- 

 tives of the genus (henee the specific name, 

 from a Latin word meaning Jatc) and when 

 its leafy top is trimmed with its many nod- 

 ding racemes of small white flowers it is a 

 highly ornamental tree. Its fruit, when fully 

 ripe is of pleasant vinous (lavor and is often 

 used in making rum, and the aromatic bark 

 IS valued as a flavoring, as a tonic and sedative 

 medicine. 



The wood of which a cubic foot weighs .30, 2S 



lbs. is strong, rather hard and very close 



grained and one of our most valuable woods 



for furniture making and interior finishing,! 



Leaves oval or oblon'4 to lance-obovate, 2-," in. 

 long, tapering or rounded at base, taper-pointed, 

 serrate with Incurved teeth, glabrous, thick 

 lustrous darlc green above, paler beneath, with 

 slender petioles bearing red glands. Floieer.^ 

 opening when the leaves are nearly grown, Vi i" 

 across in erect or nodding racemes 4-6 in. long, 

 terminating short leat.v branchlets : calyx wiib 

 short lobes, persistent; petals obovate. Fndt snb- 

 globose and somewhat lobed, V3-V2 in. in di- 

 ameter, reddish black with .1uicy purple flesh of 

 vinous flavor and stone about ^4 in. long pointed 

 at apex. 



1. A, W,, II, 29, 



