A tree, with alternate petioled deciduous sour leaves, and very numerous white flowers, in terminal panicled racemes. Pedicels 2-bracteolate at or above the middle. Sepals 5, slightly imbricated in the bud, early expanded, persistent. Corolla ovoid-cylindric, minutely canescent, narrowed at the throat, tardily expanding, 5-toothed. Stamens 10, about as long as the corolla; filaments wider than the linear anthers; anther-sacs opening by long chinks, not awned. Ovary ovoid, 5-celled; ovules numerous, near the base of the cavities; style columnar; stigma simple. Disk 10-toothed. Capsule ovoid-pyramidal, 5-angled, 5-valved. Seeds ascending or erect, elongated, the testa reticulated, loose and extended at each end beyond the linear nucleus. [Greek, sour-tree.]

A monotypic genus of southeastern North America.

1. Oxydendrum Arbòreum (L.) Dc. Sour-Wood. Sorrel-Tree

Fig. 3246

Andromeda arborea L. Sp. Pl. 394. 1753. Oxydendrum arboreum DC. Prodr. 7: 601. 1839.

A smooth-barked tree, reaching a maximum height of about 6o° and a trunk diameter of 15'. Leaves oblong, oval or oval-lanceolate, sharply serrulate, or entire, green and glabrous on both sides, finely reticulate-veined, acuminate at the apex, mostly narrowed at the base, 4'-6' long, 1' - 3' wide; racemes numerous, long and slender, erect or curving, panicled at the ends of the branches, the rachis and short pedicels canescent; flowers 3 1/2'-3' long; capsule 2"-3" long, canescent, tipped by the persistent style, the pedicels curving.

In woods, Pennsylvania and Maryland to Indiana, Alabama and Florida. Wood hard, reddish-brown; weight per cubic foot 46 lbs. Elk-tree. June-July.