Handbook of Tbees of the ]S^OET^FE^T States and Canada. 227 



This large and beautiful tree in the southern 

 forests attains the height of 100 to 140 ft. 

 with straight columnar trunk 4 or 5 ft. in 

 diameter. When isolated it develops a sym- 

 metrical oblong-pyramidal top when young, but 

 finally becoming broad and rounded. A pe- 

 culiar feature, more marked in some trees than 

 others, however, and often entirelj' wanting, is 

 the growth of wing-like projections of the 

 bark from its smaller branches. It thrives 

 best in the rich soil of bottom-lands where it 

 is associated with the Red and Black Maples, 

 the Sour, Water and Tupelo Gums, the Laurel 

 and Water Oaks, various Ashes, etc. Few 

 trees of the American forests equal the Sweet 

 Gum in ornamental value, owing to its grand 

 habit of growth and its beautiful star-shaped 

 leaves, of a rich green in summer and con- 

 spicuous in autumn on account of their crimson 

 and purple tints. 



The wood, a cu. ft. of which when absolutely 

 dry weighs 36.82 lbs., is rather soft, with 

 straight close grain, and is used in the manu 

 facture of wooden-ware, paving-blocks, lumber 

 for general construction, etc., and is sometimes 

 marketed under the absurd names — Satin 

 ^yalnut, California Red Oum, etc.i 



Leaver about orbicular in outline, deeply 5-"- 

 palmatelv lobed with acute glandular-serrate lobes 

 and pointed sinuses, cordate at base, lustrous 

 bright sreen above and ottPn pubescent in the 

 axils of the leaves beneath, fragrant wbpn 

 hriiised. purple-ci-imson in autumn ; petioles long 

 and slender. Flowers: staminate racemes erect, 

 rufous tomentose, the lowpr hfads sometimes 

 stalked : pistillate heads long pednnclate. droop- 

 ing. Fruit: hpad 1 1 Vi in. in diamPter. liberating 

 a few perfect and many abortive sepds in autumn 

 and swinging empty upon the leafless branches 

 during the following winter.' 



1. A. W., Ill, BO. 



2. For genus see p. 437. 



