926 



ARBORETUM AND FHUTICKTUM. 



TART 



tomentose. Pome dark red 

 or purple. (Dec. Prod., ii. p. 

 637.) A deciduous shrub, 

 a native of North America ; 

 introduced in 1700, and grow- 

 ing to the height of from 4 ft. 

 to 6 ft. It is frequent in 

 collections, and known in the 

 nurseries under the name of 

 jVfespilus arbutifolia. It is 

 prolific in flowers, which are 

 produced in May, and which 

 are followed by dark red or 

 purple fruit, which, when not 

 eaten by birds, will remain on 

 the bushes till the following 

 April or May, when the 

 plant is again in flower. This 

 species, whether as a bush, or grafted standard high on the common 

 thorn, is highly ornamental in spring, when it is covered with its profusion 

 of white flowers ; in autumn, when its foliage assumes a deep red or 

 purple ; and in winter, after the leaves have dropped, when it is still en- 

 riched with its persistent fruit. It is propagated by layers, suckers, or 

 seeds ; but most frequently by suckers. There was, in 1835, a remarkably 

 fine plant of this species, grafted standard high, in Knight's Exotic Nur- 

 sery ; its branches hung down gracefully to the ground, not in one mass, 

 but in varied tufts ; and their appearance in autumn, when they were of an 

 intensely purple red, was beyond expression interesting and beautiful. 

 Plants, in the London nurseries, are from 9^. to Is. each ; at Bollwyller, 

 I franc ; and at New York, 25 cents. 

 Varieties. 



a P. a. 2 intermedia Lindl. (Hort. Trans., vii. p. 229. ; Don's Mill., ii. 



p. 649.) has the fruit globose and brown. 

 sfe P. a. 3 serotina Lindl. (Hort. Trans., 1. c. ; Don's Mill. I, c.) has the 



leaves shining above, and velvety beneath ; and the fruit late, and 



party-coloured. 



647 



a P. a. 4 pumila, -Mespilus pumila 

 Lodd. Cat., (Krause, t. 86., and 

 our Jigs. 647. and 648.) appears 

 to be different from the two 

 preceding varieties. It is a low 

 plant, seldom exceeding 1ft. 

 or 18 in. in height, and rooting at the joints. The fruit is interme- 

 diate in colour between P. flrbutifolia and P. melanocarpa, being <>f 

 a reddish black. 



* 35. P. (A.) MELANOCA'RPA W. The blnck-frtdted Aronia. 



Identification. Willd. Enum., 525. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 637. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. fi4<>. 

 Syrwnymes. P. arbutifblia /3 Willd. Sp.,2. p. 1013. ; Aronia nrbutifolia Pcrs. %., 2. p 

 Engravings. Schmidt Arb. t. 86. ; Krausc, t.TJ. ; and our fig. 649. 



