176 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
at their bases ; the twig is terminated by a pair (c), 
which are convex outwardly^ and whose edges are 
in contact with each other; if we cut off one of 
these (as at d)^ we expose the next leaf folded 
together, and bent downward (e), and, beside it, 
another pair of bracts, whose edges not only are in 
contact, but firmly adhere (/) ; on tearing these 
open, we find another smaller leaf, and another 
smaller pair of bracts, containing a similar set, and 
so, in succession, until we can no longer trace 
them. The fruit of this tree somewhat resembles 
that of the Coniferm^ consisting of a great number 
of thin greenish scales, adhering to a placenta, or 
axis, forming a cone about six inches long; few 
of them are, however, fertile. Young trees have a 
smooth clear bark, but in old ones it is often much 
^ furrowed; the wood is beautifully white and smooth, 
the heart bright yellow ; it is close-grained, hard, 
and susceptible of a high polish, but it is not much 
used. 
The transition is easy from this beautiful tree 
to another of our blossom-bearing forest trees, the 
Catalpa [Catalpa syringmfolia). This does not 
appear to be common with us, but I know of one 
or two fine specimens on the banks of a running- 
brook, or branch,’^ that brawls among the pebbles 
of the high road, over which it spreads itself to some 
. distance. The Catalpa does not grow to any great 
size, but it has a broad top of spreading boughs. 
The flowers, which have now disappeared for some 
weeks, were large, growing in clusters, like those 
of the trumpet flower {Bignonia radicans)^ which 
they much resemble also in shape, but are not quite 
so long. They are of a delicate white, spotted on 
the inner surface with yellow and pink dashes. 
