Vermont Shrubs and Woody Vines 



147 



stem below ground is woody. It is a familiar plant in cool, moist 

 woodlands from the lowest altitudes to the mountain summits. 

 Its charm begins with the opening of the flower clusters in May, 

 or on the higher mountain slopes in June, and increases with the 

 maturing of the compact bunches of scarlet fruit. The bright 

 berries are a favorite with children, by whom they are sometimes 

 eaten, being palatable with a slightly sweetish taste though rather 

 insipid and seedy. They are also sometimes made into puddings. 



Alternajte-leaved Dogwood. 

 Fruiting branch, X %. 



AivTERNATE-LEAVED DOGWOOD. Comus (Utermfolia L.f. 

 This is frequent in moist, wayside thickets and open wood- 

 lands. It forms a beautiful shrub of five to fifteen feet, or even 

 a small tree when in the open, the lateral branches tending to 

 form successive horizontal stages. The broad, flat clusters of small. 



