The Trees of Vermont 



67 



escent, with fine hairs on both surfaces, whereas the leaves of the native 

 species are nearly or quite smooth. Both the flowers and the fruits of the 

 European species are larger than those of the native. 



There are several varieties of this or other European species in cultiva- 

 tion, including one that has pendulous or weeping branches, and one with 

 leaves that are usually simple or divided only at the base, the oakleaf 

 mountain ash. 



AMERICAN MOUNTAIN ASH. Pi/rus Americana DC. 



This is the more com- 

 mon native species. It 

 is a small tree twenty- 

 five to thirty feet high, 

 scattered over the state 

 but more frequent in the 

 mountainous regions. 

 The large flat clusters of 

 whitish flowers open be- 

 fore the leaves are fully 

 expanded. The leaf and 

 fruit characters are well 

 shown in the accom- 

 panying drawing. In 

 color the fruit is bright 



red, and renders the trees especially conspicuous and attractive in autumn 



and early winter. 



MOUNTAIN ASHES 



lyCaves and fruit of the American and one leaflet of the 

 elderleaf X }.. 



ELDERLEAF MOUNTAIN ASH. Pyrus sambucifoUa Cham. & Schl. 



This species is found near the summits of Mt. Mansfield, Camel's Hump, 

 Willoughby and a few of the other higher mountains. It is not very 

 common anywliere. This is not surprising since it is a northern tree and 

 reaches its southern limit in New England, extending from here northward 

 to Greenland and westward to the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. It is a 

 small tree, or often a mere shrub when not favorably situated, with branches 

 spreading into a rounded head. Sargent says that it reaches its best devel- 

 opment in this region. It has been transplated occasionally in northern 

 Vermont and has made a beautiful small shade tree. 



The leaflets are seven to thirteen in number. One of them is included 

 with the illustration of the American mountain ash that the two kinds may 

 be compared. It will be seen that the elderleaf is shorter and broader with 

 a tendency to be less pointed or even blunt at either end. It occurs so 

 rarely, however, that there will be little opportunity for confusion between 

 the two except by mountain climbers. 



