CHAP. XLII. ROSA‘CE®. AMELA'NCHIER. 875 
ii. p. 632.) A shrub, or low tree, closely resembling the preceding species ; 
and by some botanists considered as only a variety of it. In America, it 
grows to the height of 30ft. or 40ft., with a 
trunk 10in. or 12in. in diameter. The flowers 
expand in the beginning of April; and they are suc- 
ceeded by small fruit of a purplish colour, and of 
an agreeable sweet taste, which ripens in the be- 
ginning of June, before that of any other tree or 
shrub. Of this fruit the largest tree rarely yields 
more than half a pound. The wood of the tree is 
white, and it exhibits no difference between the 
heart and the sap: it is longitudinally traversed by 
small bright red vessels, which intersect each other, 
and run together ; a physiological peculiarity which, 
Michaux observes, occurs also in the red birch. 
In British gardens, it may be found from 12 ft. to 
20 ft. high, covered with its white flowers in early ‘ 
spring, and very ornamental in autumn, from the 
fine dark red which its leaves assume before dying (AM 
off. \ \ 
£3. 4. (v.) sancul’NEA Dec. The blood-coloured Amelanchier, 
Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p.633.; Lindl.in Bot. Reg., t. 1171. ; Hook. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 205. ; 
Don’s Mif., 2. p. 604. 
Synonymes, P¥rus sanguinea: Pursh Fl. Amer, Sept., 1 p.340.; Ardnia sanguinea Nutt.; Méspilus 
canadénsis y rotundifolia Michaux Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 391. 
Engravings. Bot, Reg., t.1171.; and our jigs. 630, 631. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves oval, obtuse at both ends, mucronate, finely ser- 
rated, somewhat heart-shaped at the base. Flowers few inaraceme. Calyx 
glabrous. Petals linear, obtuse. Fruit eatable. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 633.) 
631 
629 



This plant differs principally from 4. (v.) BotryAdpium in the fewer flowers, 
much shorter raceme, and shorter, broader, and more ovate petals ; and in the 
young leaves being perfectly destitute of pubescence. According to Pursh, 
it is a small tree with blood-red branches; whence, probably, the specific 
name; though in Don’s Miller it is called the bloody-fruited Amelan- 
chier. It is a native of Hudson’s Bay, and was introduced into Britain 
in 1824, Judging from the plant in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, we 
are strongly inclined to think it only a variety of A. (v.) Botryapium ; but, 
though we are of this opinion, and, in fact, consider all the amelanchiers 
known as only different forms of one species, in the same manner as Pyrus 
nivalis, P.sinaica, P. salicifolia, P. eleagnifolia, and others, are only dif- 
ferent states of the wild pear (P. communis), yet, as in the case of that 
species, we think they are as well worth keeping distinct, and of being 
cultivated, as if they were species. What advantage, then, it may be asked, 
is gained by calling them varieties, instead of species ; or even by proving 
them to be only varieties, if that could be done? To this we answer, first, 
