RED-B1 I) OR .11 l> IS-l RE1 



Th« Senna Family 

 i UBS MI'lMAt 1 



Habit and Habitat: A small lov . in our state seldom reaching 



a height of ;>0 feet, with a maximum trunk diameter of ">- s ind 

 commonly branching near the ground into numerous stout. ing 



branches to form a broad, flat ir more or less rounded crowi tl low 



and bushy. Prefers the deep, rich and moist - of th< ilands alone: 



streams and in rich river bottomlands where it is often seen in the 

 shade of other forest tn 



Leaves and Bods: Leaves alternate, simple. 2-4 inches long and 



ut the same in width, heart-shaped or rounded with an abruptly 



tapering point, entire, thick, smooth, dark green above, paler beneath, 



turning bright yellow in the fall. Petiole about one-half the length of 



the leaf. Lateral buds about % inch long, obtuse, flattened and closely 



I against the twig, brown. 



I swer s and Fruits: Flowers in late April or May. before the 

 I, pink, pinkish-purple or dark red, about Vl inch long, on short, 

 jointed stalks in clusters of 2-8, very irregular in form, shaped like 

 a pea or bean flower, perfe ] 0. in 



of 5 each; pistil 1. Fruit a short-stalked, flat, smooth, brown pod, 2-4 

 inches long:, 16 inch wide, pointed at both ends, remaining on the tree 



r the leaves have fallen; seeds 8-12, brown or olive-colored. v« 

 hard. 



Bark, Twigs and Wood: Bark on twigs shiny, brown, becoming 

 dark brown or deep reddish-brown and deeply fissured on the older 

 branches and main trunk, and often more or less scaly, sometimes 

 almost black. Twigs usually more or less zigzag bearing very small 

 buds which are blunt and flattened. The wor*l is heavy ■ • "d, 



coarse-grained, weak, dark reddish-brown, with thin lighter colored sap- 

 not durable. 



Distribution in State: Found naturally only in the southeastern 

 rt-rner of the state from Richardson county northward and westward 

 to Lancaster and then northeastward to Douerlas county. The red-bud 

 is a tree which does not get away from the immediate vicinity of deep, 

 moist woods although it is rather hardv elsewhere. It is not particularly 

 abundant in any part of the state. Map 48. 



Resaarks: The red-bud is worthy of more attention from landscape 

 architects and others interested in ornamental plants. It grows rapidly 

 and is fairly hardy in the climate of eastern Nebraska. I would not 

 recommend it for western Nebraska. It is very difficult to transplant 

 successfully when old. so that when the trees are 



set out when very younc The plants begin to produce flowers when only 

 ars old or when •">-♦> f less in height. The tree is particularly 



striking in early spring with its covering of myriads of pink flowers 

 which contrast sharply with the dark brown twiirs and trunks and which 

 ar dally noticeable at that time when out-of-door tation 



scarcelv be^un to show the usual early summer jrreen. I have seen the 

 tree in full bloom during a late winter snow storm. 



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