Handbook of Tkees of the I^orthern States and Canada. 415 



The Rusty Nannybeny is the largest Ameri- 

 can representative of the genus, attaining the 

 heiglit of 40 ft., with a trunk sometimes 12 

 or 18 in. in diameter, but it is generally a 

 smaller tree and is sometimes slirubby, sending 

 u|i from the ground se\eral steins. The bark 

 of trunk, like tliat of tiie other arborescent 

 \'iburnunis, is fissured into more or less pro- 

 nounced squares, by a transverse checking of 

 its prominent longtitudinal ridges. 



When isolated it develops a rather wide ir- 

 regular open to]), and, with its ample shining 

 leaves and large Hower clusters, it is a tree of 

 unusual beauty in spring-time; and hardly less 

 so later in autumn, when bearing its conspicu- 

 ous fruit. It is well worthy of being planted 

 for ornamental purposes, in parks and private 

 grounds, and has been found to be hardy as far 

 north as INIassachusetts. 



The wood is fine-grained, heavy and hard, 

 but, as is the case with the northern Nanny- 

 berry, the Ilea rt- wood possesses such a strong, 

 disagreeable odor as to render it undesirable 

 for most uses, even if it were procurable in 

 quantities. The disagreeable odor of the wood 

 is communicated to the smoke when burning.- 



Lcarcfs ovnl to elliptical and obovate, rounded 

 or obtusi" at base and mostly obtuse or occasionally 

 acute at a|i('X. finely and shari)ly serrate, at ma- 

 turity ('(iriaieous lustrous dark sreen above, paler 

 and with rufous hairs on midrib and prominent 

 veins lioneatli and the wide grooved and margined 

 petioles. J-'loirtrs 14 in. in diameter, in com- 

 pound rusty-pubescent cymes .sometimes .") or t! in. 

 across. Fruit, ripe in October, oblong, blue with 

 glaucous bloom, about i/^ in. long, in few-fruited 

 clusters with drooping red stems ; stone flat, 

 nearly orbicular. 



1. Syn. Vihia-ninn rcfofnmentoHum Small. 



