M KNZIESIA MESPILUS 



81 



hairy. Leaves alternate, obovate or narrowly oval ; J to 2 ins. long, 

 J to r in. wide; tapered at both ends, more or less glandular-hairy on 

 the upper surface and on the margins, with a few bristles on the midrib 

 beneath. Flowers yellowish white, nodding, produced along with the 

 young shoots in May in few-flowered clusters terminating the previous 

 year's branches. Corolla bell-shaped, J in. long, mostly four-lobed; 

 sepals with small, slender teeth ; flower-stalk decurved, glandular-downy, 

 ] to f in. long. Seed-vessel dry, egg-shaped, J in. long, covered with 

 gland-tipped hairs. 



Native of Eastern N. America from Pennsylvania southwards, mostly 

 in mountain woods; introduced in 1806. This is not one of the most 

 attractive of the American Ericaceae, but was commonly grown in tjie 

 older collections, and is still obtainable in nurseries. It likes a peaty soil, 

 and should be increased by seeds. 



Nearly allied to it, and often associated with it as a variety, is 



MENZIESIA PILOSA. 



M. GLABELLA, A. Gray. This differs in having downy stamens (those 

 of pilosa being glabrous) ; the leaves are almost smooth, as is also the 

 seed-vessel. It is a native of the North Central and North-West United 

 States. For other plants often called Menziesia in gardens, see Daboecia 

 and Phyllodoce. The name commemorates Archibald Menzies, who 

 served as surgeon-botanist on Vancouver's great expedition of survey, 

 1790-5, during which he discovered and introduced many plants a 

 western North American Menziesia among them. 



MESPILUS GERMANICA, LinncBus. MEDLAR. ROSACES. 



A low deciduous tree of crooked, picturesque habit, usually under 

 20 ft. high; young branchlets very hairy, older ones armed with stiff, 

 straight spines J to i in. long. Leaves almost without stalks, lanceolate 

 or oval, 2 to 5 ins. long, minutely toothed ; downy on both surfaces, but 

 more so beneath. Flowers solitary at the end of short leafy branches; 



