Mountain Ashes 263 



than the native species, and a more rapid grower. Dark green shining 

 foliage above, rusty-colored beneath, and its pure white showy fiower 

 heads (July, August) are its beauty, the fruit and autumn colors 

 (orange to crimson) being less conspicuous. 



Sophora. S. Japonica Linn. (130), Pagoda Tree, one of the twenty-five 

 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs, mostly of southern distribution, is 

 a pretty, erect, round-headed, small to medium-sized tree from Japan; 

 only half hardy north of New York and Massachusetts. It is attractive 

 by reason of its smooth, dark green bark for winter effects, and in sum- 

 mer by its graceful, delicate, dark blue-green foliage, and large pan- 

 icles of cream-white, pea-shaped, late flowers (August, September). 

 Otherwise, it resembles the Black Locust, and, like it, is adaptive to dry 

 soils. 



A pendulous variety, pendula (130a), is one of the best weeping trees 

 in existence. 



S. platycarpa Maxim. (131), also from Japan, with large yellow 

 flowers, is hardier than S. Japonica and may therefore be used farther 

 north. 



S. secundiflora Lag. (132), the native Texas species, a small tree 

 or shrub, with finely scented, large, violet-blue flowers (June, July) 

 and glossy leaves, is commendable only for southern planting. 



MOUNTAIN ASHES (SERVICE TREE) 



Sorbus (Pirus). This genus contains some thirty species and a 

 number of varieties of small trees, mostly of northern range and from 

 mountain sites, hence very hardy, belonging to the apple tribe (which 

 see on page 294). They are among the most pleasing hardy orna- 

 mentals because of their finely cut, ash-like leaves, turning orange-red 

 in autumn, their flat clusters of white or pink, compound flowers (May, 

 June), and the yellow to scarlet-red clusters of berry-like fruit, which 

 hang on from July throughout the winter. There is very little differ- 

 ence between the two best known species: 



5. Americana Marsh. (133), American Mountain Ash, which pro- 

 duces a greater abundance of fruit, but less brilliant in color than the 

 following, has more taper-pointed leaves and is perhaps of smaller 

 growth; and 



S. aucuparia Linn. (134), Rowan Tree, the European species. Both 



