THE CHOKEBERRY. 105 



prefer to call this tree a Mespilus, after Linnaeus and Mi- 

 chaux, to save myself the trouble of those infinitesimal 

 investigations that might convince me of the propriety of 

 placing it in every one of a dozen other different genera. 



The Shad-bush is a small tree inclining to grow in 

 clumps, instead of making a single stem from the root, 

 and is seldom quite so large or so tall as the mountain 

 ash. The leaves are small and alternate, resembling those 

 of a pear-tree, but more elegant, and covered with a soft 

 silken down on their first appearance; as the foliage 

 ripens, it becomes smooth and glossy. The flowers are 

 white, but without beauty, growing in loose panicles at 

 the ends of the branches. The product of these flowers 

 is a small fruit, about the size of the common wild goose- 

 berry, of a dark crimson color and a very agreeable flavor. 

 This fruit is used very generally in the northern prov- 

 inces, where the tree is larger and more productive than 

 in New England. 



THE CHOKEBERRY. 



A SMALLER species of mespilus, familiarly known as the 

 Chokeberry, is more interesting as a flowering plant. It 

 is a slender shrub, with beautiful finely toothed leaves, 

 bearing flowers in clusters very much like those of the 

 hawthorn, with white petals and purple or crimson an- 

 thers. The flowers stand erect, but the berries, which are 

 very astringent and are often gathered carelessly with 

 whortleberries, hang from the branches in full pendent 

 clusters. The flowers of this plant are very conspicuous 

 in the latter part of May in all our meadows. 



