66 FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



spreading petals ; from fifteen to twenty stamens ; and an ovary 

 which ripens to an almost black, juicy, acrid drupe, about half an 

 inch in diameter, containing a hard stone, and covered with a bluish 

 bloom. This slirub is very common in thickets and hedgerows. 



The Bullace {Prunus insititia), sometimes regarded as a variety 

 of P. spinosa, is a very similar bush, growing in similar situations, 

 and flowering at the same time ; but its bark is brown, and the 

 branches less spiny. Its leaves, also, are downy beneath ; and 

 the flowers, which appear at the same time as the leaves, are in 

 pau-s, on downy stalks. The fruit is about double the size of that 

 of the last species, either dark or yellow in colour, less acrid, and 

 di'ooping. 



The above two species are the origins of the damsons and plums 

 of our fruit gardens. 



The May or Hawthorn {Cratcegus Oxyacantha) is so well known 

 that there would be no necessity to describe it, were it not for the 

 fact that, being so familiar, its distinguishing characters are liable 

 to be overlooked. It is a much-branched shrub, with many of the 

 branches modified into protective spines. The leaves are simple, 

 smooth, deeply-lobed and obtuse, have deciduous stipules, and 

 appear before the flowers. The flowers are generally w hite, sweetly- 

 scented, and arranged in corymbs. There are five sepals and five 

 petals, and the numerous stamens have pink anthers producing 

 brown pollen. The carpels, one to three in number, are enclosed 

 in the calyx-tube ; and the fruit is a bright red pome wdth a bony 

 core. 



The Wild Pear {Pyrus communis) is occasionally met Avith in 

 woods and hedgerows, where its white fiowers may be seen in April 

 or May. The leaves of this tree are simple, elhptical, and serrate ; 

 and the smaller branches often terminate in a spine. The flowers 

 are about an inch in diameter, and arranged ii corymbs. They 

 have distinct styles — a feature which serves to distinguish the 

 blossom from that of the Wild Apple ; and the fruit, which tapers 

 towards the base, is a five-chambered, woody pome, with a horny 

 core. Two varieties of this species occur, one with the base of the 

 fruit conical, and the other with the base rounded. 



The Crab Apple (P. Malus) is very similar in general appearance, 

 but has no spines ; and the flowers, which are in sessile umbels, are 

 white, with delicate shades of pink. The styles, also, are united 

 below ; and the fruit is globular, yellow or reddish, concave at the 

 insertion of the stalk, very acid, and five-chambered. This tree isi 



