22 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



59. AMELANCHIER CANADENSIS, TORR. and GRAY 

 JUNE-BERRY, SERVICE-TEEE, SHAD-BUSH, SHAD-BLOW. 



Ger., Gewdhnliche Trauben lime ; Fr., Grand Amelanchier ; Sp., Nispero. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves ovate or oblong-ovate, 1-3| in. long, usually more 

 or less cordate at base, tapering to a sharp point, very sharply serrate, downy when 

 young, but soon glabrous both sides; stipules and bracts long-silky-ciliate. Flowers 

 (early spring with or before the leaves) large, white, in terminal, loose, drooping 

 and nearly glabrous racemes; petals oblong, |-| in. in length. Fruit (June-July) 

 on elongated pedicels, globose, reddish-purple, sweet and of pleasant flavor, about 

 ^in. in diameter. 



J^" There are several varieties of this species, but rather of a shrubby nature 

 than arborescent. 



A small tree sometimes 40 ft. (15 m.) in height and 15 in. (0.45 m.) 

 in diameter of trunk, with smooth reddish-green bark, and often a mere 

 shrub. It is one of the first trees of spring to put forth its handsome, 

 white flowers, and then, before the leaves of the surrounding forest have 

 appeared, it is a conspicuous and beautiful object a welcome harbinger 

 of spring. It is from this trait of blossoming early, at the time when 

 the shad ascend the rivers, that it is called the Shad-bush and Shad-blow- 



HABITAT. Canada from the shores of Hudson's Bay southward 

 throughout eastern United States to Florida and westward to Minnesota 

 and Indian Territory, growing along hill-sides and in dry, open woods. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, close-graiiied and 

 taking a satiny finish: It is of a reddish-brown color, with thick sap-wood 

 much lighter, and usually marked with spots and streaks of red. Specific 

 Gravity, 0.7838; Percentage of Ash, 0.55 ; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 

 0.7795; Coefficient of Elasticity , 119677; Modulus of Rupture, 1133; Resist- 

 ance to Longitudinal Pressure, 670; Resistance to Indentation, 280; 

 Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 48.85. 



USES. The wood of this tree is not extensively used owing to its 

 generally small size and limited quantities, though it is said to be excel- 

 lent for making fish-rods (going by the name of American Lance- Wood) 

 and is also valuable for tool-handles. 



The tree is growing in popularity for ornamental purposes, where it 

 receives special favor on account of its early blossoms. The fruit of 

 some of the shrubby forms, we are told, is used by the country people of 

 some sections as an article of food. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES are not known of this species. 



ORDER HAMA.MELA.CEJE]: WITCH HAZEL FAMILY. 



Leaves alternate, simple; stipules deciduous. Flowers in heads or spikes, often 

 polygamous or monoecious; calyx-tube coherent with the base of the ovary; petals 

 4-5, linear or narrow, inserted on the calyx ; stamens twice as many as the petals, 



