The Viburnums and the Elders 



high in the river bottoms of western Texas, and west to California, 

 and south through Mexico and Central America. It is a squat, 

 round-headed tree, with its short trunk bulging suddenly at the 

 base. A soft pubescence covers leaves and twigs. The shiny, 

 black fruit, borne in loose clusters, is eaten by Indians and Mex- 

 icans. The tree is often planted near homes for its shade and 

 fruit. 



The Pale Elder (5. glauca, Nutt.) is smooth throughout, 

 and gets its name from the whitish floury covering of the berries. 

 The leaves are pale beneath. The berries are edible. This 

 elder grows from British Columbia to southern California, and 

 east scantily and reduced in stature as far as Montana and Utah. 

 It is sometimes planted as an ornamental. Trees from 30 to 50 

 feet high are seen in dry, gravelly soil in the coast region, especially 

 in Oregon. 



452 



