Handbook of Tkees of the Noktiiekx States and Canada. 



The Persimmon tree onlinarly does not at- 

 tain a greater heiglit than 40 or 50 ft., but in 

 the fertile valleys uf southern Indiana ami 

 Illinois it has been known to attain 100 ft. 

 in height, with trunk 2 or 3 ft. in thiekness. 

 As an isolated tree it (le\elops a rather broa I 

 rounded or flattened top with contort 'J 

 branches. An attractive tree at all seasons 

 it is particularly so in autumn, when iti 

 bright orange-colored fruit shows in strong co i- 

 trast to its green foliage, or later when ofin- 

 spieuous on its otiierwise naked branches 

 The fruit is rich in tannin and very astringent 

 until thoroughly ripe and soft, when it is ordi- 

 narily delicious, though individual trees difler 

 in quality of fruit. 



The wood is heavy, a cubic foot when ab",5- 

 lutely dry weighing 40.28 lbs., hard and fin?- 

 grained, and is used in turnery for small arti- 

 cles of wooden-ware, shoe-lasts, .shuttles, etc.i 



Its fruit is often found in the markets of 

 southern cities, when in season. It is quite 

 variable in qiuility, and is occasionally found 

 comparatively free from astringent properties. 

 By careful selection and propagation trees 

 bearing superior fruit could no doubt be se- 

 cured worthy of propagation. 



Lrnrcs ovate to fAAan^ and oval, obtuse, .l-T 

 in. long, rounded or suhcord.ite at base, acunti- 

 nate, pubescent at first lint at maturity lustrous 

 dark green above, paler and pubescent hcnoath, 

 coriaceous. Flotrcrs (May-.Tune) sbort-pcduncii- 

 late : staminate in 2-.'^-flowered cymes: pislillafo 

 solitary ; corolla greenish yellow ; stamens of tlie 

 sterile flowers about 10 and of the pistillalo 

 flowers rudimentary and only S; ovary nenrly 

 glabrous. 8-celled ; styles 4, slender. Fruit mostly 

 depressed globose, I-IV^ in. in diameter, jjiile 

 orange, often with red cheeks, glaucous, subtended 

 hy the enlarged calyx, pei-sistent into the winter; 

 seeds oblong, flattened. = 



1. A. W., Ill, 61. 



2. For genes see p. 4~t/?. 



M.__. 



