CHAPTER XXXVII: THE SERVICE-BERRIES 



Family Rosace.^ 



Genus AMELANCHIER, Med. 



Slender, pretty trees often cultivated. Leaves simple, 

 alternate, deciduous. Flowers white, numerous, in racemes. 

 Fruits small berry-like, with 4 to lo-celled core. 



KEY TO SPECIES * 



A. Leaves ovate, finely saw-toothed; fruit flattened, red to 

 purple, 

 B. Fruit J to i inch across; leaves sharp pointed, 



{A. Canadensis) service-berry 

 BB. Fruit about \ inch across; leaves blunt pointed, 



{A. ohovalis) longleaf service-berry 

 AA. Leaves broad, coarsely toothed on apical half, blunt; 

 fruit i to I inch across, blue-black, 



{A. alnifolia) western service-berry 



The genus Amelanchier occurs in southern Europe, northern 

 Africa, China and Japan, and in southwestern Asia as well as in 

 eastern and western North America. It includes few species, all 

 delicate and pretty in foliage and flower, planted for ornament 

 in many countries. Dwarf varieties are raised for their fruit. 

 The flowers cover the slender branchlets before the leaves appear. 

 The sweet berries feed the birds. Our Western service-berry has 

 especially large and juicy fruits. 



June-berry, Service-berry, Shad-bush (Amelanchier Cana- 

 densis, T, & G.) A slender, round-headed tree, rarely 40 feet high, 

 usually less than 20 feet. Bark smooth, purplish brown, with pale 

 lenticels. IVood heavy, hard, dark brown. Buds pointed, brown, 

 inner scales elongate in spring. Leaves alternate, oval or oblong, 

 serrate, tapering, smooth; 3 to 4 inches long, midrib grooved 

 above and ridged underneath. Flowers, April, before leaves, white 

 in loose, drooping racemes, with silky bracts, i inch across with 5 



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