Identifier: foresttreesofpac00unit (find matches)
Title: Forest trees of the Pacific slope
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: United States. Forest Service Sudworth, George Bishop, 1862-1927
Subjects: Trees Forests and forestry
Publisher: Washington Govt. Print. Off
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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of the genus are given under this species. Canotia. Canotia holacantha Torrey. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. Canotia holacantha is a tree or shrub anomalous in its entire lack of leaves; the thin green bark of its twigs seemingly performs the functions of leaves. This strange modification appears greatly to help the plant to endure the hot,dry climate of its range. At best, a shrubby tree from 15 to 20 feet high with a very short, stocky trunk from 4 to (; inches through; very occasionally, almost a foot in diameter. Greenish bark of the branches somewhat streaked, that of large trunks pale brown and seamed. I wigs very slender, round, tipped with a sharp point, growing singly from tbi- branches, never in pairs (one opposite FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 381 another). Small short clusters of white (bisexual) flowers appear near the ends of the spiny twigs (fig. 179), producing a dry woody capsule (fig. 179),which splits open at the top. liberating the small winged seeds. Wood, heavy,
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Fig. 179.— Canotia holacantha. fine-grained, light rich brown, very hard. Not used for any purpose, chiefly because of its rarity. Longevity.—Not fully determined. An exceptionally large tree 10 inches in diameter showed an age of over 72 years. 15188—08 25 382 FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. Arizona (from White Mountain region to the Bill Williams (River) Forli) ; southern California (Providence Mountains). OCCURRENCE. Low mountain slopes, foothills, and mesas in dry gravelly soils. In groups and scattered among chaparral and occasional small desert trees. Climatic Conditions (marked by high temperature) and silvial habits, etc., undetermined. Family STERCULIACEAE. Sterculiaceae contains a large number of genera, but these are mainly represented in tropical regions outside of the United States. The West Indian tree, from which chocolate of commerce is derived, is a member of this family, as is also the sycamore-leafed Sterculia, indigenous to China and so often planted for ornamentation

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