Handbook of Teees of the ]SIoetiikt;n States and Canada. .317 



The Yaupon is a sni.ill tree occasionally 

 attaining tin- liciglit of 'iO or 30 ft., witli dense 

 top of many branclies and usually more or less 

 inclined trunk from to 10 or 12 in. in di 

 anieter. It is often shrubby, sending up several 

 trunks from a common base. It is confine. 1 

 to the immediate vicinity of the coast, seeming 

 to require the influence of the sea breezes in 

 order to maintain its existence, excepting ia 

 the lower Mississippi valley where it ventures 

 farther inland. It is a tree of rare beauty in 

 aiiliiiim atiil winter, A\hen its brilliant red 

 berries and handsome dark shining green leaves 

 nn livid branehlets are sought for Christmas 

 decorations. Tin.' leaves of the species possess 

 strong emetic properties, as im])lied in both 

 the specific name and one of the vernacular 

 names — Emetic IIollj/. — Hliich was a fact 

 known to the Imlians in early days. From 

 these leaves they made their " black drink " 

 which was uscil l)oth as a medicine and cere- 

 monial drink, and to partake of it they jour 

 neyed from far inland to the coast at regular 

 intervals. 



The wood is rather heavy, hard, close- 

 grained and of a creamy white color, suitable 

 for use in turnery, for inlaid work, etc. A 

 cubic foot when absolutely dry weighs 4.5. .31 

 lbs. 



Leaves persistent, elliptical or olilonj;. 1-2 in. 

 lonf]^, ol:)tuse at l>oth ends, crenate, ooriacnons, 

 lustrous darli tureen above, paler beneatli ; petioles 

 shnrt (about ^/s in.) and thick. Flowers in glab- 

 rous cymes fi'om the axils of the leaves of tbe 

 previous year, tbe staminafe short-peduneled and 

 several-flowered; Ibe pistillate 1 or 2-flowered and 

 sessile. Fruit ripening lafe in antnmn, snhglo- 

 bose. brigbt red, about % In. in diameter, often in 

 great abundance and persisting until spring with 

 stems about Vi in. long : nutlets obtuse at both 

 ends and prominently ribbed. 



I. Syn. Ilea: Cassine Walt. 



