106 HOW TO KNOW WILD FRUITS 



Leaves. — The leaves are oval or inverse egg- 

 shaped. The under surface is much lighter than 

 the other. The petiole is short. 



Flowers. — The light yellow flowers appear 

 before the leaves. Usually three come out of 

 the same bud, with their short stalks cohering. 

 April. 



It is from the toughness of its bark that this 

 shrub receives its name, Leatherwood. The 

 wood is quite brittle, but it is almost impossible 

 to break the bark. The Indians knew of this 

 quality and utilized it for thongs. The twigs 

 are used in basket making with good effect. 

 The plant grows in moist places in woods from 

 New Brunswick to Minnesota, and south. 



CANADIAN BUFFALO BERRY 



Lepargyraea Canadensis. Shepherdia Canadensis 

 Oleaster Family 



Fruit. — The fruit externally resembles a 

 berry. The fleshy, four-cleft calyx, however, 

 incloses a smooth nut or an achene, making the 

 accessory fruit drupelike. It is yellowish red, 

 oval, small, and insipid. July, August. 



