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BLACK HAW. 

 Viburnum prunifolium, Linnaeus. 



FORM A shrub or small tree usually attaining a height of 15 ft., but may reach a height 

 of 35 ft. with a diameter of 10-12 inches. Trunk short, often crooked, bearing a rather broad 

 and round-topped crown formed by stiff lateral branches. 



BARK About 2/5 of an inch thick, reddish-brown, rough, broken into thick plate-like scales. 



TWIGS At first reddish and smooth, then green, and later, during first winter, spine-like, 

 gray tinged with red, and often covered with thin film-like bloom. Usually marked with 

 orange-colored lenticels. 



BUDS Opposite, J-J of an inch long, covered with 2 rusty pubescent scales which enlarge 

 into leaf-like bodies in spring when growth begins. Axillary buds 4 of an inch long, flattened, 

 closely appressed to twig. Flower buds swollen near base. 



LEAVES Opposite, simple, oval, 1-3 inches long, obtuse or slightly pointed at apex, usually 

 wedge-shaped at base, finely serrate on margin, sometimes leathery when old, dark green above 

 and pale green below; petioles usually round, rarely winged. 



LEAF-SCARS See "Leaf -scars" under Sweet Viburnum. 



FLOWERS Small, perfect, white, appearing about May in dense, many-flowered, sessile, and 

 terminal cymes which are 3-4 inches broad. 



FRUIT Fleshy, dark blue drupe which is persistent, sweet and rather juicy; contains a flat 

 oval stone; grouped in few-fruited clusters borne on reddish stalks. 



WOOD See "Wood" under Sweet Viburnum. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Black Haw, also known as Sweet Haw, Sheep- 

 berry, Stag-bush, and Nanny-berry, closely resembles the Sweet Viburnum. See "Distinguishing 

 Characteristics" under Sweet Viburnum. The Black Haw and the Sweet Viburnum may further 

 be distinguished from the Maple-leaved Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) by the palmate vena- 

 tion of the leaf-blade and the small gaping buds of the latter, and from the Arrowwood 

 (Viburnum dentatum) by the coarsely dentate leaves, the small gaping buds, and the evidently- 

 stalked flower clusters of the latter. 



RANGE Connecticut, south to Georgia, and west to Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Common in the eastern and southern parts of the 

 State, and local to sparse in the other parts. 



HABITAT Prefers dry rocky hillsides. Sometimes found in rather moist locations. Fre- 

 quent along fences and roadsides where seeds may have been dropped by birds. Often formg 

 almost impenetrable thickets along fences, especially when coppiced. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES It is of no commercial importance as a wood-producing 

 tree, but for ornamental purposes deserves to be planted extensively. The bark of the roots 

 is valuable medicinally. 



