THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 81 



of which two are native within our limits. Possibly 

 a third species (^E. parviflora) exists in the upper 

 part of the State adjoining South Carolina and 

 Georgia. 



1. Yellow Buckeye. (^Esculus flava, Ait.) — 

 More abundant in the Western than in the Atlantic 

 States ; in the latter it is not found north of Virginia. 

 In this State it is most abundant upon the sides of 

 our high mountains, and is nowhere of larger size. 

 It here reaches a height of 60 to 80 feet, with a 

 diameter of 3 to 4, and with its tapering straight 

 trunk is a very imposing tree. There is no better 

 indicator than this of a deep, rich, fertile soil. The 

 flowers are in large clusters, yellow (or occasionally 

 with a reddish tinge), and very showy. In the Mid- 

 dle District this species is found along streams and in 

 river bottoms as far down as Orange, but is here a 

 mere shrub 3 to 6 feet high. 



2. Red Buckeye. (iE. Pavia, Linn.) — This grows 

 only in the Southern and Western States. It is dis- 

 tinguished by its dull red flowers, and is what is chiefly 

 known in our Lower and Middle Districts under the 

 name of Buckeye. It is usualty 8 to 12 feet high, but 

 sometimes becomes a small tree. The root of this 

 species is sometimes used as a substitute for soap in 

 washing woollen cloths. The powdered seeds and 

 bruised branches, if thrown into small ponds and 

 stirred a while, will so intoxicate fish that they rise 

 to the surface and may be taken b}^ hand. 



