4 



FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 



here, and smooth above. The cottony down is a protection to the 

 stomata, the undersides being often turned upwards. 



The flowers are white, in lax corymbs. The fruit is subglobose 

 and yellow. 



The tree grows to a height of 40 ft. The flowers are in bloom in 

 May and June. The White Beam is a perennial deciduous tree, and 

 can be increased by grafting. 



The flowers are large and conspicuous, and arranged much on the 



Photo. H. Irving 



WHITE BEAM (Pyrus Aria, Ehrh.) 



same plan as in the Rowan, where they are proterogynous. Though 

 cross-pollination will normally take place, if insects are absent then the 

 plant will pollinate itself. The honey is half-concealed and secreted 

 at the base of the ovary. 



The fruit, a pome, is edible, fleshy and scarlet when ripe, and is 

 dispersed by birds. 



This tree is a lime-loving plant, and addicted to a lime soil in its 

 native habitats, but where it is planted it may grow on sand soil or 

 even on clay. 



A moth, Lyonetia clerckella, feeds upon it. 



Pyrus, Pliny, is from the Latin for pear tree. 



White Beam is called Hen-apple, Beam Tree, Chess-apple, Cum- 



