[Illustration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.] [Illustration: Tangential Section, life size.] 53 SYCAMORE. BUTTONWOOD. BUTTON BALL. WATER BEECH. Sycamore, from two Greek words meaning fig and mulberry; buttonwood and button-ball, refer to fruit balls. _Platanus occidentalis_ Linnaeus. _Platanus_, refers to the broad leaves; _occidentalis_, western, to distinguish it from European species. [Illustration: Habitat.] HABITAT: (See map); best in valley of lower Ohio and Mississippi. [Illustration: Leaf.] CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 70'-100', and even 170'; diameter, 6'-12'; trunk, commonly divides into 2 or 3 large branches, limbs spreading, often dividing angularly; bark, flakes off in great irregular masses, leaving mottled surface, greenish gray and brown, this peculiarity due to its rigid texture; leaves, palmately 3 to 5 lobed, 4"-9" long, petiole enlarged, enclosing buds; fruit, large rough balls, persistent through winter. APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, reddish brown, sap-wood lighter; diffuse-porous; rings, marked by broad bands of small ducts; grain, cross, close; rays, numerous, large, conspicuous. PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, medium (38th in this list); 35 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr., 0.5678; medium strong (54th in this list); elasticity, medium (43d in this list); medium hard (30th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps little; very durable, once used for mummy coffins; hard to work; splits very hard. COMMON USES: Tobacco boxes, yokes, furniture, butcher blocks. REMARKS: Trunks often very large and hollow. [Illustration: Radial Section, life size.] [Illustration: Cross-section, magnified 37-1/2 diameters.] [Illustration: Tangential Section, life size.] 54 WILD BLACK CHERRY. _Padus serotina_ (Ehrhart) Agardh. _Prunus serotina_ Ehrhart. _Padus_, the old Greek name; _prunus_, the classical Latin name; _serotina_, because it blossoms late (June). [Illustration: Habitat.] HABITAT: (See map); best on southern Allegheny mountains. [Illustration: Leaf.] CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TREE: Height, 40'-50', even 100'; diameter, 2'-4'; straight, columnar trunk, often free from branches for 70'; bark, blackish and rough, fissured in all directions, broken into small, irregular, scaly plates, with raised edges; leaves, oblong to lanceolate, deep, shiny green; fruit, black drupe, 1/2". APPEARANCE OF WOOD: Color, light brown or red, sap-wood yellow; diffuse-porous; rings, obscure; grain, straight, close, fine, takes fine polish; rays, numerous. PHYSICAL QUALITIES: Weight, medium (35th in this list); 36 lbs. per cu. ft.; sp. gr., 0.5822; strong (35th in this list); elasticity medium (45th in this list); hard (16th in this list); shrinkage, 5 per cent.; warps, little; durability .........; easily worked; splits easily, must be nailed with care. COMMON USES: Cabinet-work, costly interior trim. REMARKS: Grows rapidly. [Illustration: Radial Section, life size.]