338 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



always part of the fruit itself. In the Hornbeam it is a three- 

 lobed, persistent bract that performs this function ; and the fruits 

 of the Lime are also blown away by the aid of a large bract from 

 the middle of which the fruit-stalk jirojects. 



Some of our trees present a glorious aspect during the autumn 

 months, displaying conspicuous and more or less brightly-coloiu'ed 

 fruits in combination witli the varied autumn tints of tlieir leaves. 



The red foliage of the 

 Mountain Ash or Rowan 

 is accompanied by the 

 stiU brighter clusters of 

 scarlet fruits — little 

 apple-Uke pomes, about 

 the size of holly 

 ' berries ' ; and the Way- 

 faring Tree bears pretty 

 clusters of flattened, 

 oval, one-seeded berries 

 which are first red, and 

 then nearly black. The 

 Guelder Rose, while still 

 in full leaf, is often very 

 heavily laden with its 

 bright red, semi-trans- 

 parent berries ; and the 

 violet fohage of the 

 Dogwood is inter- 

 mingled ^\ith clusters of 

 httle berry-like drupes 

 which, at first green, 

 have now changed to a rich purple-black. Then there is the 

 Spindle Tree, with its pretty red lobed capsules which split, when 

 ripe, at its angles, disclosing as many cells as there are lobes (usiially 

 four), each with a single seed enclosed in an orange jacket. Occa- 

 sionally we meet with the Strawberry Tree, during early autumn, 

 bearing both flower and fruit at the same time. This tree flowers 

 in September and October, but the fruits which accompany the 

 flowers are those of the previous year, for they require more than 

 twelve months to come to maturity. The fruit is a large berry, of an 

 orange-red colour, with a granulated surface that gives it some- 

 what the appearance of the strawberry. It should be mentioned 



TUE WAYFARING TllEE, IX FRUIT. 



