361 ICOSANDKIA— PENTAGYNIA. Pyms. 



stigmas. Fruit obovatc, above an inch in length, reddish, 

 ^>potted, extremely austere, causing a most painful and durable 

 irritation in the throat if tasted in an unripe state ; but when 

 mellowed by frost or keeping, it becomes brown, soft, and eat- 

 able, resembling a Medlar, though to most people less agree- 

 able. Giertner always found rudiments of 2 seeds in each cell, 

 though one only arrives at maturity. It is precisely a Pyrus, 

 according to the original idea of that genus ; nor are numerous 

 species wanting, with leaves more or less completely pinnate. 



5. P. auciiparia. Quicken-tree, or Mountain Ash. 

 Roan-tree. 



Leaves pinnate; leaflets uniform, serrated, smooth. Flowers 

 corymbose. Styles about three. Fruit globular. 



P. aucuparia. Gt^rtn. i'.2. 45. i.S7. F!. Br. 533. Ehrh. Beiir. 

 V. 6.94. Arh. 54. Hook. Scot. 151. 



Sorbus aucuparia. Linn. Sp. PI. C,S3. irdld. v. 2. lOOS. Huds. 

 215. Engl. Bot. v. 5. ^.337. Piirton 236. MUl. Illustr. t. 43. 

 Fl. Dan. i. 1034. Crantz Stirp.fasc. 2. 49. t. \.f. 4. 



S. sylvcstri.s, foliis domestics similis. Bauh. Pin. 415. Raii 

 Sijn 452. 



S. sylvestris. Matth. Vulgr. r. 1.238. /. Camer. EpU.l6l.f. 

 Dalec/i. Hist. 332./. 



S. sylvestris, sive Fraxinus bubula. Gcr. Em. 14/3./. 



S. torminalis. Dalcch. Hist. 99. /: 



Mcspilus n. 1 09 1 . Hall. Hist. v.2. 32. 



Fraxinea arbor. Trag. Hist. 1008./. 1009. 



Orn us . Dud. Pcmpt^ 831 . f. 



In mountainous woods^ and hedges. 



Tree. May. 



A handsome tree, of slow growth, with a tough, close-grained, 

 not very hard wood; the branches smooth, round, greyish. 

 Leaves smaller than the last, being scarcely a span long j their 

 leajlets narrower, more firm, downy beneath, not cottony, when 

 young J afterwards smooth on boUi sides. Panicles corymbose, 

 broad and flattish, with downy stalks. Fl. white, numerous, 

 with a slight almond-like scent. Pe^ very concave. Styles 3, 

 or 4, with small obtuse stigmas. Apples like berries, scarlet, 

 globose, very juicy, sour and bitter, of as many cells as there 

 are styles, the sides of which are pliant and leathery, not carti- 

 laginous or rigid. Seeds 2 in each cell, though only 1 in general 

 becomes perfect. Of the strict generic affinity between this 

 and the last, notwithstanding the different consistence of the 

 cells of their fruits, there can be no doubt. 



Many superstitious qualities are attributed by the Scottish High- 

 landers to their Roan-tree, which is especially famous as a pro- 

 tection against charms and witchcraft. The fruit, soaked in 



