OUR NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS. 55 



54a. Solanum Dulcamara (L.). Nightshade. Bittersweet. 



This European climber makes itself quite at home in older Ontario, 

 where it no longer needs the protection of man. The blue flowers and 

 red berries show its relation to the Tomato family, while the deeply 

 lobed or nearly entire leaves distinguish the species. 



55a. Sassafras officindle (Nees.). Sassafras. 



A large tree, common in south-western Ontario, and known by the 

 rough aromatic bark and irregularly lobed or entire leaves. 



56a. Lindera Benzoin (Blume.). Spice-bush. 



A rather tall smooth shrub found in moist places in various parts of 

 older Ontario, but apparently nowhere abundant. 



57a. Dirca palustris (L.). Leatherwood. Moosewood. 



A peculiar looking shrub with twigs which served as cordage for the 

 early settlers. The base of each petiole covers a bud of the next 

 season, thus giving a jointed appearance to the branches, with appar- 

 ently a leaf instead of the usual bud at the end. The leaf-margins are 

 sometimes ciliate. Common in Maple woods ; plentiful in Muskoka 

 and throughout northern Peterboro' and Hastings to the Ottawa River, 

 though Professor Macoun found it rare in the southern part of the 

 latter county. 



58a. Shepherdia Canadensis (Nutt.). Buffalo-berry. 



A shrub with silvery or rusty scales covering the lower surfaces of the 

 leaves. Common in central and new Ontario, but not noticed in 

 Muskoka. 



59a. Ekeagnus argentea (Pursh.). Silver-berry. 



A species similar to the last, but found only in the extreme north, and 

 easily known by the alternate leaves clothed on both sides with silvery 

 scales. 



60a. Ulmnsfftlra (Michx.). Slippery or Red Elm. 



Best known by the bark, which has medicinal value and is used as 

 chewing-gum by the country boy. The leaves are large with wrinkled 

 surface, very rough above and downy beneath, with the veins usually 

 more branched than in the next. It seems to be lacking in the 

 Laurentian parts of Muskoka though common along the Severn River. 



60b. Ulmus Americana (L.). White Elm. 



Our largest elm, valuable for timber, and frequently planted for shade 

 or ornament. In large trees the branches curve quite gradually from 

 the trunk, making it very suitable for avenues and distinguishing it in 

 appearance from the last species. The young leaves are often rough 

 above, but not so evidently and visibly so as in the Slippery Elm. 



