188 



smaller tree than the better known Big Cottonwood, seldom reachino- a 

 height of more than 30 or 50 feet, and 1 J feet in diameter. The timber 

 is very light and soft. 



Description. — Leaves smootli both sides, cliiefl}^ ovate-lance-shaiied (sometimes nar- 

 ^o^Yly lance-shaped), ^ith a long tapering point, mostly rounded at the base, or some- 

 times tapering slightly at the base; margin with small rounded teeth. Branches 

 round, with smooth bark. 



85.— Cottonwood. Carolina Poplar. Big Cottonwood. Xeck- 

 LACE Poplar. (Populiis monilifera^ Aiton.) 



The common cotton wood along the eastern base of the Rocky Moun. 

 tains (and eastward to the Atlantic Coast). It is abundant on all the 

 water-courses, and valuable chiefly for the rapidity of its growth. The 

 timber is of little commercial importance, yet it is considerably used 

 for cheap lumber, light fuel, and in the manufacture of paper-pulp; 

 unless well protected, it decays rapidly when exposed to tlie weather. 

 In western towns this tree is largely employed as a shade tree, as it 

 reaches a desirable size in a comparatively short time, and is therefore 

 often preferred to other trees. It grows to a height of over 100 feet, 

 and 4 to G feet in diameter. 



Description. — Leaves broadly triangle-shaped, somewhat heart-shaped or truncated 

 at the base, long-pointed ; margin with blunt incurved, hairy teeth. Young branches 

 angled, but becoming round with age. 



80. — Cottonwood. White Cottonwood. {Poindus FremojitiijVi'iit 

 son, var. Wisllzeni, Watson.) 



This species is found in southern Colorado, through New Mexico 

 (western Texas, Arizona, southern California), and is the prevailing Cot- 

 tonwood of the arid localities ; rather abundant along streams in open 

 country, but quite rare on precipitous sites. It is a large tree, com. 

 mouly attaining a height of 50 to 80 feet, with a diameter of 3 to 4 feet. 

 The wood is soft and light, but supplies the ordinary fuel of the region. 



Description. — Leaves broadly triangle-shaped, sharp-pointed, somewhat wedge- 

 shaped or truncate, and with more or less broad shallow sinuses at the base ; margin 

 with a few distant, blunt (occasionally incurved) teeth. Young bark yellowish, but 

 becoming gray with age. 



LILIACE.E: LILY FAMILY. 



[The plants bolonping to this family arc termed endourenons or inside growers, the woody Rtems 

 being made np of a mingled mass of tibers, and not marked by annual rin;;3 as in the pines, maples, 

 elms, etc.— exogenous or outside growers.] 



87. — Spanish Bayonet. {Yucca data, Engelmanu.) 



A small tree, with a trunk usually not more than 10 to 15 feet in 

 height and 4 to 7 inches in diameter. It is commonly met with in the 

 dry gravelly soil of table-lands, ranging through western Texas, Ari- 

 zona to Utah (probably in Xew Mexico), and southward into Mexico j 

 wood light, soft, and brittle. 



