Handbook of Tkices of the jSToktiiern States and Cana 



3(1.", 



The Sour Oiiiu in the forest oei'asionally at- 

 tain the heiglit of SO ur UHI ft., \\itli trunk 3 to 

 5 ft. in diauietor. W lii-u isolated from the 

 iiilluenee of otiier trees its habit of j;ro\\tli is 

 pietnres(itie, ay it sends out many spreajin;.^' 

 pendulous snuill touyh hranehes, forming a 

 roundeil or cylindrieal head. It inhaliits g.'ii- 

 erallv swautps aiul wvl h.twlands, in ei;tmpiaiiy 

 \\ith the Ued -Maple, Swamp W liite t)ak, Blaek 

 Ash, Water Asli and other "\\aterdi.i\ing trees, 

 but on the slopes of the Alleghany .Mountains 

 is also found on well drained uplands. Its 

 clear bright green foliage is an attraeli\'e 

 feature in sumnierj and its autumnal tints, of 

 bright red and purple, are si'areely surpassed 

 by the tints of any of tlie trees aliout it. 



The wood of the Sour (iuni is rather light 

 and soft, of fine grain, tough and dilliiailt to 

 split and work, owing to its contorted fiber. 

 These qtialities, howe\"er, make it particularly 

 valuable tor certain special uses; as for wheel- 

 hubs, rollers, wooden-shoes and many otlier 

 artictes of wooden-ware, and it is extensively 

 used, when cut into thin lumber, for fruit- 

 hoxes and crates. - 



T.rarrs: ohovate-ohlons to oval, 2-.5 in. lon.t,'. 

 oimrafo or sometimes rounded at base, acute or 

 acuminate at apex, ontire, pubescent at first Imt 

 finally tliiclc, firm and lustrous dark green above 

 and more or less pubescent beueatli. Floirirv ap- 

 pearing W'ben the leaves are nearly full .thrown on 

 slender jiubescent peduncles from V.' to nearly 1^ 

 in. Ions, the stnminate in many-flowered and tlie 

 pistillate in fi'w-llowrred heads. Pniit ripenin,!: in 

 Octolier, J-o or mnvr in eacli cluster, obloni^. liUu-- 

 hlack with thin .iuii-y sour flesU .and ov.iid or 

 oblong sliKhtly battened stone having 10-12 low 

 longitudinal ribs.' 



1. Syn, Kyssa nniitifiora Wang. 



2, A. AV., I, fl. 



.^. For genus see p, ^r.O, 



