154 TREES OF NT.W ENGLAND. 



bhe branching point; bead, in favorable situations, broadly 

 ovate to oval, rather compact, symmetrical; branches mostly 

 straight, striking ou1 in different trees at varying angles; the 

 numerous secondary branches mostly horizontal, slender, often 

 drooping at the extremities, repeatedly subdividing, forming 

 a dense spray set at broad angles. Foliage very abundant, 

 green when fully grown, almost impervious to sunlight; the 

 small creamy flowers in numerous clusters; the pale, odd- 

 shaped bracts and pea-like fruit conspicuous among the leaves 

 till late autumn. 



Bark. Dark gray, very thick, smooth in young trees, later 

 becoming broadly and firmly ridged; in old trees irregularly 

 furrowed ; branches, especially upon the upper side, dark brown 

 and blackish; the season's shoots yellowish-green to reddish- 

 brown, and numerously rough-dotted. The inner bark is 

 fibrous and tough. 



Winter Buds and Leaves. Leaf -buds small, conical, brown- 

 ish red, contrasting strongly with the dark stems. Leaves 

 simple, alternate, 4-5 inches long, three-fourths as wide, green 

 and smooth on both sides, thickish, paler beneath, broad-ovate, 

 one-sided, serrate, the point often incurved ; apex acuminate 

 or acute ; base heart-shaped to truncate ; midrib and veins con- 

 spicuous on the under surface with minute, reddish tufts of 

 down at the angles ; stems smooth, 1-1^ inches long ; stipules 

 soon falling. 



Inflorescence. Late June or early July. In loose, slightly 

 fragrant, drooping cymes, the peduncle attached about half 

 its length to a narrowly oblong, yellowish bract, obtuse at 

 both ends, free at the top, and tapering slightly at the base, 

 pedicels slender ; calyx of 5 colored sepals united toward the 

 base ; corolla of 5 petals alternate with the sepals, often 

 obscurely toothed at the apex ; 5 petal-like scales in front of 

 the petals and nearly as long ; calyx, petals, and scales yellow- 

 ish-white ; stamens indefinite, mostly in clusters inserted with 

 the scales ; anthers 2-celled, ovary 5-celled ; style 1 ; stigma 

 5-toothed. 



Fruit. About the size of a pea, woody, globose, pale green, 

 1-celled by abortion : 1-2 seeds. 



