flANHROOK OF TrEES OF THE XoKTHEEN StATES A^'D CaNADA. 



>87 



The Coffee-tree, or as it is commonly called 

 the Iveutueky Coffee-tree, sometimes attains 

 the height of 100 ft. ami in the forests with 

 straight columnar trunk 2-4 ft, in thickness 

 covered with a grayish hark, rough with 

 firm prominent scales. In the open it de- 

 velops a rather wide ohovoid top, conspicuous 

 in summer on account of its graceful airy 

 foliage and perhaps interspersed with its great 

 brown pods. On the approach of winter its 

 manner of shedding its large bicompound 

 leaves suggested to the common mind the er- 

 roneous idea that it is shedding also its twigs 

 and its api)earance then, when lealless, has 

 given rise to the name Slump-tree. It is con- 

 fined in its distribution to low rich bottoni- 

 l.inds in company witli the Black Walnut, 

 Buckeye, Eed-bud. Ilackherry, Slippery Elm, 

 Huney Locust, Oaks and Hickories, but is no- 

 nliere abundant. Its common name. ColTec- 

 tree. is given to it beca\ise its seeds in early 

 days were used to some extent as a substitute 

 for coffee. 



The wood, of which a cu. ft. when abso- 

 lutely dry Aveighs 4.3.21 lbs,, is heavy, strong 

 and very durable, and is useful for posts, rail- 

 wav' tieSj furnitiire. etc- 



Leaves ]ar2:c. 2-Z-fX. long, with stron.c; petioles 

 and 10-1,S pinn.T^ each bearing 10-14 ovate mem- 

 braneous nearl.v glabrous lealiets. Floircrfi stami- 

 Date flower-clusters .3-6 in. long : the pistillate 

 10-12 in. long with longer pedicels. Fruit pods 

 mostly 4-10 in. long. IV2-2 in. broad, remaining 

 closed on the branchlets late into the winter with 

 sweet pulp and seeds % in, across,-'' 



1. Syn, Gi/mnoctadu-s Caiuuhsis Lani. 



2. A. W.. n, 27. 



3. For genus see p. 442. 



