2. GENUS CHIONANTHUS, LINN. 



FRINGE TREE (Chionanthus Virginica, Linn.). A slender, 

 narrow-headed tree, 20 to 30 feet high, or less. Bark reddish, 

 scaly; branches gray or brown. Wood light brown, close, 

 heavy, hard. Buds small, brown, ovate; inner scales becoming 

 leaf-like. Leaves opposite, simple, 4 to 8 inches long, 1 to 4 

 inches broad, smooth, except on veins below, dark green, 

 paler below, oval or oblong on short petioles; yellow in early 

 autumn. Flowers May and June, perfect, white, each with 

 4 slender, curving petals 1 inch long, in graceful, pendulous 

 clusters. Fruit in September, clustered 1-seeded drupes, 1 

 inch long, dark blue, with slight bloom; flesh dry; skin thick 

 Dist. : Rich, moist soil southern Pennsylvania to Florida; west 

 to Arkansas and Texas. Admirable ornamental tree, hardy 

 to New England. 



