Vermont Shrubs and Woody Vines 143 



stem. It was used for thongs, ropes and basketry by the 

 aborigines, and supplied bag strings for the millers and farmers 

 of the early settlements. The plant was used by the Indians 

 for its medicinal qualities, being chewed for toothache and pos- 

 sessing emetic properties. 



Closely allied to this leatherwood is the 



DAPHNE OR LADY LAUREL. Daphne Mezereum L. 

 This is a small, erect, garden shrub, with attractive lilac- 

 purple flowers clinging closely to the twigs in earliest spring and, 

 later, bearing clean handsome foliage. It has escaped from" 

 old gardens to rocky woodlands in a few places in the state (Bur- 

 lington and Montpelier). Probably the seed is carried by birds 

 feeding on the berries. 



OLEASTER FAIVQLY. ELAEAGNACEAE 



CANADL'\N BUFFALO-BERRY. Sliepherdia Canadensis (L.) Nutt. 

 This family is closely allied to the preceding and like it 

 has but the one native species in Vermont. This is a compara- 

 tively rare plant on the cliffs and headlands of die Champlain 

 valley. It is characterized by the rusty appearance of the lower 

 leaf surface, due to the abundant clothing of silver stellate hairs 

 which are interesting as viewed under the microscope. The 

 fruit, which is borne but sparingly, is a yellowish red, insipid 

 berry. This plant is sometimes recommended for ornamental 

 planting on dry rocky situations. It is, however, less used than 

 is its close relative, the buffalo-berry of the western plains, which 

 is valuable both for its silvery foliage and its edible fruit. 



LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY. LYTHRACEAE 



SWAMP LOOSESTRIFE. Dccodon verticillatus (L) Ellg. 



The members of this family are typically herbaceous, but 

 one of the most attractive, the swamp loosestrife or water wil- 

 low. Decodon verticillatus (L.) Ellg., is woody at the base and 



