THE. CORNEL. 119 
French names puine and bois punais, “ bug-wood,” 
are said to be due. 
The opposite leaves are short-stalked, somewhat 
broadly egg-shaped and pointed, with entire margins. 
Though they are generally not-much more than two 
inches long, we have found them on suckers nearly three 
times as long. Their veining is characteristic, though 
not unlike that of the Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathar’- 
ticus). The veins are not only prominent in appear- 
ance, but are so exceptionally tough that, as in the 
case of the common plantain, if a leaf be snapped 
asunder in several places, the vascular bundles will 
hold the fragments together, and can be drawn out 
unbroken. When young the leaves are hoary or 
silky, but they become perfectly smooth later. In 
spring they may, like the twigs that bear them, be 
suffused with a fainter tinge of the rich vinous colour 
which they are destined to exhibit in all its perfection 
at a later season. They then become a somewhat 
dull yellowish or sap green, resembling the foliage ot 
the Buckthorns. It is in early autumn, however, that 
they show themselves in a mingled richness of colour 
that challenges comparison with American Maples or 
with the Muscat Grape-vine. Mixed with the un- 
altered green of summer, deep crimson, light rose-red, 
a dark maroon approaching the purple of a plum, 
may then be seen, side by side with yellow and 
orange leaves, and with those that blend several of 
these tints on a single blade. Later on in the season 
of change whole bushes of deep purple or blood-red 
may be seen, but the more varied charm belongs to 
the earlier time. 
