THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 133 



their course where they are generally turbid. It* is 

 ordinarily a small tree, from 10 to 25 feet high ; but 

 upon some of our mountain streams it acquires nearly 

 double these dimensions. It is not of handsome 

 form ; but its clusters of white bell-shaped flowers 

 (similar to those of the garden Snoiv Drop) about half 

 an inch long, give it an aspect of much beauty when 

 in blossom. I have never seen it in cultivation, but 

 it deserves a conspicuous place in the cool moist parts 

 of ornamented grounds. The fruit is greenish and 

 slightly juicy when young, becoming dry. It has 4 

 winged angles, is about 1£ inch long, with a bony 

 nut inside. 



Planer Tree. (Planera aquatica, Gmel.) — This 

 tree, closely related to the Elm and the Hackberry, is 

 rare in the Atlantic States and unknown north of 

 the Cape Fear River. From thence southward it is 

 found on the borders of streams and swamps, and 

 may very easily be mistaken, at a little distance, for 

 the Hornbeam. It is from 20 to 40 feet high, and 8 

 to 15 inches in diameter. The wood is said to be 

 hard and strong, but is too rare with us to be of any 

 use. The leaves are about 1J inch long, and much 

 like those of our Small-leaved Elm. The flowers are 

 in a small, round greenish cluster about the size of 

 small Peas and appearing before the leaves. The 

 fruit is a nut covered with warty scales, quite small. 



