GUM BUMELIA (Three-fourths natural size)
The branches are short, stout, and stiff, and often armed with straight or curved spines.
The LEAVES are [oblong], more or less grouped near the ends of short spurs; rounded at the [apex], narrowed at the base; thick, firm, dark green and shiny above, and rusty-woolly beneath. They are from 1 to more than 2 inches long and up to ¾ inch wide.
The FLOWERS are small and open in summer, each borne on a hairy flower-stem ([pedicel]) about ⅛ inch long. They are borne in [fascicles] of 15 to 18, near the [axils] of the new leaves or near the [leaf-scars] of old leaves. The petals are white and [lobed]. The [fruit] is fleshy, black, [oblong], about ½ inch in length, borne singly or in a cluster of 2 or 3, and usually dry and firm on the outside and contain a light brown, firm rounded seed. The ripe fruit falls from the tree in autumn.
The WOOD is light brown streaked with white and surrounded by a band of lighter colored [sapwood]. It is heavy, hard, and close-grained.
B. lanuginosa var. Rigida A. Gray, is found in western and southern Texas, while B. lycioides L. Pers., is found in eastern Texas to Milam County.
COMMON PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana L.
Persimmon is a well known tree throughout its range. It is small, rarely exceeding 50 feet in height and 18 inches in diameter, occurring in the state as far west as the Colorado River. It prefers dry, open situations, and is most abundant in old fields, though it occurs on rich bottomlands.
COMMON PERSIMMON (Leaf and [fruit], one-half natural size; twig, three-fourths natural size)