4;J^ ROSKACE^E. 



ROSE FAMILY. ROSEACE^. 



The Rose Family consists of trees, shrubs and a few herbs of wide distribution throughout 



temperate regions, and of upwards of fifteen hundred species grouped in about ninety genera. 



Most of our succulent friuts are among its products. Ten of the genera are represented 



by arborescent species in the United States. 



Lcnrcf; alternate (opposite in Lyonothamniis) with stipules. Floircrs regular, perfect: 

 calyx ."i-lobed : petals ."> ((> in Cercocorpus) imbricated in the bud: stamens numerous, .distinct 

 and inserted with the petals on a disk lining the calyx-tube : anthers small, 2-celled. introise 

 (extrorsc in Vauqiwlenia) longitudinally dehiscent: pistils 1-many : ovary 1-celled with 

 generally two anatropous ovules in each cell ; seeds mostly without albumen. 



KEY TO THE GEXEKA. 



St. Fruit a pome, consisting of an enlarged and succulent calyx-tube and ovary with papery 

 or iiorny carpels: stipules free from the petioles (Tribe Fomoidcw) . 

 b Carpels papery at maturity and 

 c As many as the styles 



d Leaves simple ; flowers in simple cymes Pyrus. 



d- Leaves palmately compound; flowers in compound cymes Sorbus. 



XT Carpels becoming twice as many as the styles; flowers in racemes: leaves simple. 



Amelanchier. 



b" Carpels horny at maturity ; leaves simple Crataegus. 



a- Fruit a drupe ; ovary superior. 1-celled. with single terminal style (Tribe Pruiiouh <i) . 



Prunus. 



THE APPLES AND PEARS. Genus PYRUS L. 



The genus Pyrus (also spelled Pints) as here restricted consists of about 30 or 40 

 species of small or medium-size trees of the northern hemisphere and mainly of the Old World. 

 Five are natives of North America, four of the Atlantic states and one of the Pacific slope, 

 besides these two or three introduced species are widely naturalized. 



Lea res simple, deciduous, petiolate. involute in the bud; stipules free from the petioles, 

 ■caducous ; winter buds scaly. Floiccrs pink or white, in simple terminal cymes on short 

 lateral and sometimes spinescent spurs ; calyx with urn-shaped tube and pointed lobes 

 imbricated in the bud and mostly persistent ; petals rounded, short-clawed ; stamens 20 or 

 more ; pistils usually 5, alternate with the petals, united with the calyx-tube and containing 

 2 ovules in each cell : styles usually 5, distinct or united at base. Fruit a pome, formed by 

 the enlargement of the united calyx tube and ovaries with papery carpels joined at apex ; 

 seeds usually 2 in each cell, more or less compressed, ovoid, erect, lustrous brown with 

 cartilaginous testa and straight embryo. 



The name is the ancient Latin name of the Pear. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

 a Fruit usually tapering to the stem and flesh containing grit-cells; styles mostly distinct. 



P. communis, 

 a- Fruit usually hollowing at the stem and flesh not containing grit-cells : styles united at base 

 b Leaves glabrous at maturity or nearly so and 



c Ovate, mostly truncate or subcordate at base P. coronaria. 



c- Oblong-lanceolate to oval and mostly tapering at base P. aagustifolia. 



b' Leaves tomentose or pubescent beneath and 

 c Mostly narrowed at base 



Pedicels slender, I-IV2 in. long P. loeiisis. 



Pedicels stout, % in. or less in length P. Soiilardi. 



«c" Mostly rounded or subcordate at base; petioles and pedicels 



Short, stout, and pubescent P. Malus. 



Long, slender and glabrous P. prunifolia. 



For ftpceirs see pp. 230-237 and the foUou-'uifj: 



I'EAR. Pi/rus eommuiiis L. A native of southern Europe and Asia, producing (in a 

 native state) a small inferior fruit. This has been vastly amelioriated by cultivation and 

 tybridizaiion. and the tree is now cultivated in all countries of temperate regions. It has 

 escaped and become naturalized in many localities in the United States. In favorable situations 

 It is a strong upright tree, sometimes 7.5 ft. in height and 2 ft. or more in thickness of trunk. 

 Jjcarex mostly ovate-oblong. 2-4 in. long, obtuse or rounded at base, acute or acuminate, flnely 

 .■ai)pressed-ser"rate or subentire, pubescent and ciliate at first but finally lustrous dark green 

 above, paler and veiny beneath, very firm in texture: petioles long and slender. Flowers 

 about! in. broad, appearing with the leaves: styles usually r» and distinct to base. Fruit 

 >ariable. but that of wild seedling trees usually small and more or less austere. 



Apple. P. Mains L. — MaUis Malus (L.) Britton. The native land of the Apple is 

 supposed to be southeastern Europe and western Asia. It has been in cultivation from very 



