The Trees and Shrubs of Hingham. 145 



SAXIFRAGACE-22. 



Gooseberry (Mibes oxyacanthoides, L.). This species grows in 

 moist places, along fences and by walls or rocks, everywhere. 



H AM AMELIDEiE . 



The Witch Hazel (Hamamclis Viryiniana, L.) is with us a 

 shrub or low tree rarely exceeding twenty-live feet in height. 

 Straggling and irregular as it generally is, it is unique among our 

 woody plants from the fact of its blooming and ripening its fruit 

 at the same time. The peculiar yellow blossoms are an agreeable 

 surprise to the rambler in the woods in October and November, 

 latest reminders as they are, with asters and golden rods, of the 

 season of flowers. 



CORNACEiE. 



The Cornel family is well represented in Hingham, every spe- 

 cies common to Xew England growing freely in town, excepting, 

 probably, C. stolowfera. 



The Dwarf Cornel (Cornus Canadensis, L.), a little plant 

 four to eight inches high, is not properly ranked among the woody 

 plants, but having a woody root, although neither shrub nor tree, 

 it is here included. It has its leaves in a whorl of four or six. 

 At the apex is a cluster of small, greenish flowers surrounded by 

 a large, four-leaved, showy, white involucre. The fruit is red. 

 This species grows at Third Division woods and elsewhere. 



The Flowering Dogwood ( Cornus florida, L.) occurs in the 

 woods between the Old Colony Hill, Martin's Well Lane, and Weir 

 River, in Third Division and Turkey Hill woods, and elsewhere. 

 The showy beauty of this small tree when in bloom in June is 

 well known to all who are familiar with woodcraft. The large 

 white 'involucre, or floral envelope, which surrounds the true flow- 

 ers, makes it conspicuous for a long distance. Further soutb, 

 where this species fruits more fully, its brilliant scarlet berries 

 have the appearance of coral beads hung from the twigs. 



The Rou.vd-leaved Cornel (Cor)ius circinata, LVHeritier), a 

 pretty shrub, occurs in the Martin's Well woods, and at Stoddard's 

 Xeck, and Hockley. The leaves are large and almost round in 

 their general shape ; the flowers in white spreading cymes with no 

 involucre. The fruit is light blue. 



The Silky Cornel (Cornus sericea, L.), a large shrub, is found 

 everywhere in low grounds. The silky down upon the under side 

 of the leaves and young shoots, and their rusty color, as well as 

 the purple tint of the branches, mark it plainly. The flowers and 

 fruit are similar to those of the circinata. 



The Red osier Dogwood {Cornus stolonifera, Michx.) has not 

 been certainly identified in Hingham by the writer, although it 

 may yet be found within the town limits. 



VOL. I. — 10 



