PIandbook of Treies of ti-ie. jSToetilekn States and C!anada. 323 



Tlie interesting Walioo is a small tree, only 

 under the most favorable comlilions attaining 

 the lieight of 20 or 25 ft. with a trunlv ti to 8 

 in. in diameter, vested in a snioothisli mottled 

 gray bark. When isidatcd from other trees 

 it develops a wide flat top of slender spread- 

 ing branches. Trees of this species, ho\ve\i'r, 

 are rare and confined mainly to the southern 

 and western parts of its range. Elsewhere it 

 is usually a shrub rather than a tree. 



Its quite ordinary foliage and flat unassum- 

 ing flowers scarcely attract attention during 

 the summer season, but on the approach of 

 autumn, when its leaves assume a pale yellow 

 v:olor and its singular scarlet purple fruit dan- 

 gles from each branehlet. it is an object of 

 Cdinpicuous iieauty, and we sec in it tiien the 

 aptness its occasional names " Burning-bush " 

 and " lilcediiifi-ltcrirt Tree," as its opening fruit 

 reveals its bbiod-ied contents. 



The wood is ratjicr licavy, a cu. ft. weighing 

 when absolutely dry 41.08 lbs., hard and close- 

 grained. 



I,<<ni,^ dcfidnnns. innstl.v ni)lon:;. 2-~> in. IrmL,'. 

 tapiTin^" at Iiasc .and arnininalc or acnlr al npcx. 

 tiucj.v ei'cnati'-si'ri'ah'. rallicr lliin, puln'sciai I . ])alcr 

 beneath: petinlrs abunl ''i in. bam: hranchli'ls 

 usually more m- less -l-aTi^'led. I'liiinrs alKJiil i •;, 

 in. across in 7-1 ."-llnw-cri'U t ricliotomons c.vinrs 

 with slender prdnilcP'S ; prinis purple, nl»n\'ate, nn- 

 dalato : anthcfs lairple. I'niil ri[>f in October and 

 often persistiim" inln Ilir winter altoiit ij in. aci-oss. 

 dcpply :;-4-b, I.I'd, smiinlb. Iii;lif iMii'ide: sc<ed ali.inl 

 \a iu. Inn-; and covered with a tiiin scarlet aril.' 



1. For ijenus see p. 446. 





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