ROSACEA 



359 



enlarged at the apex into broad truncate stigmas; ovules 2 in each cell, ascending; 

 raphe dorsal ; micropyle inferior. Fruit obovoid, fleshy, the thickened calyx-tube 

 connate to the middle only with the membranaceous carpels coated above with long 

 white hairs filling the cavity closed by the infolding of the thickened persistent calyx- 

 lobes, their tips erect and crowning the fruit. Seed usually solitary in each cell, 

 ovate, obtuse, slightly ridged on the back; seed-coat membranaceous, slightly punc- 

 tate, light brown; hilum orbicular, conspicuous; embryo filling the cavity of the seed; 

 cotyledons plano-convex; radicle short, inferior. 



The genus is represented by a single species of western North America. 



The generic name, from erepos and ixrj\ov,is in reference to its difference from related 



genera. 



1. Heteromeles arbutifolia, Roem. Tollon. Toyon. 



Leaves appearing with the flowers in early summer, 3'-4' long, I'-l^' wide, usu- 

 ally persistent during at least two winters; their petioles ^-f long. Flowers open- 

 ing from June to August in clusters 4'-6' across and often more or less hidden by 

 young lateral branchlets rising above them. Fruit ripening in November and Decem- 

 ber, mealy, astringent, and acid, remaining on the branches until late in the winter. 



A tree, sometimes 30 high, with a straight trunk 12'-18' in diameter, dividing a 



hcj.^s^s 



few feet above the ground into many erect branches forming a handsome narrow 

 round-topped head, and slender branchlets covered at first with pale pubescence, in 

 their first winter dark red and slightly puberulous, ultimately becoming darker and 

 glabrous. "Winter-buds i' long. Bark f'-^' thick, light gray, with a generally 

 smooth surface roughened by obscure reticulate ridges. "Wood very heavy, hard, 

 close-grained, dark red-brown, with thin lighter colored sapwood of 7 or 8 layers of 

 annual growth. The fruit-covered branches are gathered in large quantities and used 

 in California in Christmas decorations. 



Distribution. Usually in the neighborhood of streams or on dry hills and espe- 

 cially on their northern slopes and often on steep sea-cliffs ; California coast region 

 from Mendocino County to Lower California; most common and of its largest size 

 on the islands off the California coast; on the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada and on 

 the San Bernardino Mountains up to elevations of 2000 above the sea and usually 



