142 HOW TO KNOW WILD FBUITS 



INDIAN CURRANT. CORAL BERRY 



Symphoricarpos Symphoricarpos. Symphoricarpos vulgaris 

 Honeysuckle Family 



Fruit. — The fruit varies in ripening from 

 coral-red to reddish purple. It is small, ovoid- 

 globose, and bears the calyx teeth at the sum- 

 mit. The skin is thin ; the flesh is dry, mealy, 

 and insipid ; and, although there are four cells, 

 the seeds are but two in number, two ovules 

 being abortive. The seeds are white and hard. 

 The berries grow in clusters from the axils of 

 most of the leaves. The fruits persist during 

 the winter. 



Leaves. — The entire oval or ovate leaves are 

 on short stems and opposite. They are a dull 

 green and somewhat hairy beneath. They are 

 usually obtuse both at apex and base. 



Flowers. — The pinkish bell-shaped flowers 

 are somewhat hairy at the throat. They 

 grow in clusters in the leaf axils. July. 



This plant is most prolific in fruit, which per- 

 sists after the leaves have dried and fallen. The 

 clusters extend nearly the length of the stem 

 and bend it with their weight. 



