HA^'DBOOK OF TkE.es of the XOETIIElfX StATKS AND CAv.XADA. 219 



Tlie Swamp Bay is a tree of medium size 

 rarely more llian 30 or 40 ft. in height or with 

 trunk more than li/o ft. in thickness, with 

 straight branches and copious foliage. It is 

 confined to the coast regions of the Gulf and 

 Atlantic states but ranges northward into 

 Virginia, where I have seen it in the Dismal 

 Swamp in company with the Bald Cypress, 

 Eed Maple, Tupelo and Water Gums, Water 

 Ash, Over-cup and Laurel Oaks, etc. Further 

 south it is more abundant occurring in pine- 

 barren swamps, sometimes to the exclusion of 

 nearly every other species. 



The wood is rather heavy, a cubic ft. when 

 absolutely drj' weighing 39.86 lbs., soft and 

 strong, and when found large enough applica- 

 ble to the same uses as the Red Baj'.- 



Lrnrcs oval to laDCeolate, about equally pointed 

 at both ends, margin slightly revolute, tomentose 

 when they unfold but when mature lustrous dark 

 green above, paler and pubescent beneath, rusty 

 tomentose on midrib and primary veins, veins 

 coD.«picuous ; petioles stout, these and the new 

 growtli generally rusty tomentose. Flowers with 

 tomentose peduncles, from 1-3 in. long wtien fully 

 grown : caiyx pale yellow with thick broad ovate 

 pointed lobes, tomentose outside, pubescent inside, 

 and those of the outer series about half as long 

 as those of the innei'. Fruit dark blue, from 

 Vi to % in. long, with tliin aromatic flesh.' 



1. Pcrsca Carolinensis var. palustris Chapman. 



2. A. W., V, 113. 



o. For genus see p. 435. 



