392 EDIBLE WILD PLANTS 



black when ripe, to in. to ^o in. thick, somewhat flat, and con- 

 taining a single hard flat seed about half the size of the fruit, 

 thin skinned, with moist soft black pulp, very sweet and easily 

 digested, decays soon, unless eaten by birds and squirrels. 

 Ripens in August. 



Grows in deep shady woods, in moderately dry soil. Widely 

 distributed, but not very abundant. 



8. Viburnum Opulus L. Cranberry-tree, Bush Cranberry. 



Shrub 5 ft. to 12 ft. high, with many branches. Bark light 

 grey. Leaves 3 to 5 ribbed, strongly lobed, lobes pointed, base 

 of leaf wide, sides notched. Berries js in. long, round, bright red, 

 very sour but pleasant, with a single thin flat smooth seed. 

 Smooth skinned, juicy, remains uninjured until spring. 



In low or moist rocky lands, or beside streams, but not in 

 swamps, meadows or pine timber land. Preserve made of the 

 berries is sometimes to be had in the Halifax country market. 

 Plentiful only in a few districts of the northern and western 

 counties. 



9. Viburnum cassinoides L. Withe-rod. 



Bush 5 ft. to 8 ft. high, thin, tough, wiry, branches few, 

 which ascend at slight angle with main stem ; much used for 

 basket making. Bark light brown. Leaves 2 in. to 3 in. long, 

 oval, pointed, wavy margin notched into rounded teeth, dark 

 green, not shining nor very thin. Berries slightly flattened, 

 TTT in. to To in. long, with a bluish bloom, smooth black skin and 

 pulp, with a flattened stone, sweet, but pleasant tasting, agree- 

 able and easily digested, and of considerable value as an article 

 of food. Their dark color makes them objectionable to some 

 whose fastidiousness exceeds their common sense. 



In nearly all meadows, swamps, wet barrens and low open 

 lands, often in great abundance. Widely distributed. 



