430 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Shining Rose, R. nillda, Willdenow, distinguished for its shining, 

 dark colored leaves and the extreme prickliness of its stem, 

 found in a few places, in low grounds, — and the Sweet Briar, 

 R. mbigindsa, with many varieties. The last was doubtless 

 introduced, but has spread very extensively. 



FAMILY XXVII. THE APPLE FAMILY. POM ACE JE. Lindley. 



To this family belong only trees and shrubs with alternate, 

 simple or compound leaves, stipules commonly deciduous, 

 purplish, white, or pink flowers in terminal bunches, with a 

 calyx of 5 divisions, a corolla of 5 petals, alternate with the 

 divisions of the calyx ; stamens numerous, some multiple of the 

 petals, growing on and within the calyx ; from 1 to 5 styles, 

 and the fruit a pome or apple with from 1 to 5 cells. 



The Pear, the Apple, the Quince, the Hawthorn, the Rowan 

 Tree or Mountain Ash, and the Wild Sugar Pear, so valuable 

 for their fruit and for the beauty and fragrance of their flowers, 

 give an interest to this family with which few others can vie. 

 The wood of all the species is of a close and smooth grain, and 

 valuable to the turner. The fruit contains a peculiar vegetable 

 acid called malic acid. 



This family is almost confined to the northern temperate zone 

 of both continents; few species are found in the southern hem- 

 isphere, and within the tropics they are found only on moun- 

 tains or elevated plains. 



XXVII. 1. THE THORN. CRATAEGUS. L. 



Thorny shrubs or low trees, natives of Europe, India, and 

 North America, with entire or variously lobed and cut leaves, 

 deciduous. Stipules and flowers in terminal corymbs. The 

 calyx-tube is pitcher-shaped; the petals spreading and round- 

 ish; the stamens many; the ovary with 2 to 5 cells, and sur- 

 mounted by as many glabrous styles; the fruit a fleshy pome, 



