1*J2 Bulletin 145 



DOWNY ARROW- WOOD. Vibumuni puhcsccns (Ait.) Piirsh. 



This is a low straggling shrub with slender branches two to 

 five feet high. It is frequent in the Champlain valley, preferring 

 dry rocky woodlands. It is sometimes used in ornamental plant- 

 ings and is to be recommended especially for dry, partially shaded 

 banks. Its natural habitat in dry woods segregates it in nature 

 from the next species which it most closely resembles. If, how- 

 ever, the two are intermingled the characters emphasized in the 

 key will suffice to distinguish them. 



TOOTHED ARROW-WOOD, l^iburnum dcntatnni L. 



The common and latin names, of like significance, are ap- 

 propriate for this shrub, the leaves of which are prominently 

 toothed. It is said by the early botanist, Marshall, that the In- 

 dians preferred to use the young shoots of this species to those 

 of any other of the arrow-woods for the fastening of their shafts. 

 It is distinguished from the preceding form by its smooth 

 branches and leaves, its larger size (five to ten feet), and its 

 preference of moist soils. It is fairly frequent in swampy places. 

 The flower clusters are two or three inches across, opening in 

 early summer, and the blue-black berries, about one-fourth inch 

 in diameter, mature in September. Although a native of wet 

 places it will grow if planted in any good soil, and its pleasing 

 habit and clean bright foliage combine with flowers and fruit 

 to make it deserving of very general use in ornamental planting. 



wiTHE-ROD. J^tbiirnum cassinoides L. 



This is a common shrub in swamps throughout the state. 

 The name withe-rod is well chosen since its long lithe stems make 

 the best of withes. It has an erect habit from five to twelve 

 feet high, grayish bark and young branchlets, leaf stalks and un- 

 der leaf surfaces sprinkled with rusty or scurfy dots. The leaves 

 are thickish and dull green with apex somewhat tapering but 

 dull-pointed and with margins varying from almost entire to 

 dull-toothed. The leaf base tapers to the leaf-stalk and even 



