258 HOW TO KNOW WILD FRUITS 



are originally two seeds in the developing ovary. 

 As these grow they burst their membranous 

 covering and continue growth as pairs of naked 

 seeds. The fruit is blue with a bloom, globular, 

 and borne on short stout stalks. The fruits grow 

 in raceme-like clusters. 



Leaves. — There is one large leaf at the top of 

 the stem and sometimes a smaller one near the 

 base of the flower. The compound leaf is thrice- 

 parted and the leaflets have two or three lobes. 

 They are coarsely toothed. 



Flowers. — The flowers are yellowish green, 

 small, and in racemes. April, May. 



This herb of early growth appears, in rich 

 woods, in April. When young, the whole plant is 

 bloom-covered. It is more common to the west- 

 ward, and extends as far south as South Carolina. 



SASSAFRAS 



Sassafras sassafras Sassafras officinale 



Laurel Family 



Fruit. — The fruit is an oval dark blue drupe. 

 This fits into a red hollow cup, which is thick- 

 ened calyx and fleshy stem. The calyx teeth 



