Handbook of Trees of the Noetjieea- States and Canada. 2S5 



The Red-bud ig a small trpc, sometimes in 

 forest growtli attaining a lieiglit of 40 or 50 

 ft., but when isolated does not attain so great 

 a heiglit and tlien develops a low wide llat- 

 topped or a rounded head. The trunk is rarely 

 mure than 10-lii in. in diauu'ter, eluthed in a 

 grayish or reddish brown scaly bark. 



It inhabits the baidcs of ravines and rieli 

 bottom-lands, sometimes forming an under- 

 growth in forests of taller trees, and in early 

 spring its abundant pink flowers make it a 

 heautifnl object. Associating as it docs witli 

 the Flowering Dogwood and Howering at tlie 

 same season of the year, one rarely sees a 

 more beautiful floral medley than that i)re- 

 sented by these two trees, a bank of Red-bud 

 flowers nniking a beautiful setting for the large 

 white flower-heads of the Dogwood. In sum- 

 mer its glossj' round heart-shaped leaves are 

 unsurpassed in attractiveness by the foliagi' of 

 any other tree, and it is justly |)opular f<ir 

 ornamental planting. 



The wood, of which a cubic foot weighs .'ilbi;.') 



lbs., is of a yellowish lirowii color with (bin 



sap-wood, and is of little counnercial impmt 



anee. 



A.car'-,s- onrdate-orbiculnr. '^-r> in. lon.^' and lirnnd. 

 truncate or cordate at base, obtuse or acute at 

 apex, entire, thickish, lustrous above, hairy in the 

 axils of the veins beneath, brisht yellow in au- 

 tumn. Floirrrs about % in. loiiR. in sessile um- 

 bels; corolla pink purple. Fruit: pod Slt'-Syj in 

 Ions, short stalked in the calyx ; seeds oblong, 

 y.'i in. long^ 



1. For penun see pp. -t-i 1—442, 



