Vermont Shrubs and Woody Vines 101 



MOUNTAIN siiAD-BUSii. Amehnchier oligocarpa (Michx.) 



Roeni. 



This is the coninion shad-bush of the higher altitudes of the 

 Green Mountains and is easily distinguished by the few flowers, 

 the pear-shaped larger fruit and the acute leaves. 



A form, A. argnta Nutt., with ellipsoidal fruit and smaller 

 leaves is found occasionally in the lowland swamps. 



The fruits of these species are less desirable than those of 

 the previously named species. 



CINQUEFOIIy. P0TENTII.LA. 



The cinquefoils or five-fingers are mostly herbaceous weeds. 

 Two shrubby species occur in Vermont, however, one of them be- 

 coming rather too familiar in some sections. They are plants 

 of quite different type as shown by the following characters: 

 Height 2 to 4 feet; compound leaf of 5 to 7 leaflets; flowers yel- 

 low Shrubby cinquefoil 



Height 6 inches or less; leaf compounded of 3 leaflets; flowers 

 white Three-toothed cinquefoil. 



SHRUBBY ciNQUEEoiL.^ PotentUla fruticosa. L. 



This is a low, much-branched, spreading bush, with bark 

 scaling from the older stems, leaves a grayish green from the 

 coating of silky hairs, and abundant conspicuous yellow flowers 

 as bright and nearly as large as buttercup blossoms. It was 

 originally found only occasionally bordering swamps and in a few 

 cool, rocky gorges or cliffs. During the last generation however, 

 it has been spreading persistently over the pastures in cer- 

 tain sections until today it must be ranked as the most aggres- 

 sive invader among the shrubby weeds, quite outclassing the 

 hardbacks. It is worst in the vicinity of Manchester and Dor- 

 set but extends northward to Salisbury and southward along the 



* For a detailed account of the shrubby cinquefoil as a weed in 

 Vermont, see Vt. Sta. Rpt. 16, p. 173 (1903). 



