1040 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



roseum Rcem. et Schult. Syst., vi. p. 635., and Lodd. Cat., ed. 183C, 

 Knor. Del., ii. t. 5. and 6. The Snow-ball Tree, or Guelder Rose ; 

 Rose de Gueldres, Pellotte de Neige, Boule de Neige, Poire molle, 

 Fr. ; Schneeballe, Ger. The specific name roseum is applied on 

 account of the form of the flowers, and not because of their colour. 

 a* V. O. 3 foliis variegdtis Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836, has the leaves variegated 

 with white and yellow. 



Description, fyc. The Guelder rose, in a wild state, is not remarkable for 

 the beauty of its flowers ; but its bright red berries, which ripen in September, 

 and which, towards the middle of October, assume a beautiful pink, almost 

 compensate for the inferiority of the species to the variety in point of flowers. 

 The leaves of both die off of a fine red on the first approach of frost. The 

 snow-ball tree, or the Guelder rose (V. O. 2 sterilis), is supposed to have 

 originated in the Low Countries, in Gueldcrland, whence its name ; though 

 Gerard, speaking of it, says, " It groweth in gardens, and the flowers are there 

 doubled by art, as it is thought." Whatever may be the origin of this variety, 

 it certainly forms one of the most ornamental shrubs, or low trees, that can be 

 planted in a pleasure-ground : " le plus eclatant qu'on connaisse," as it is said 

 in the Nouveau Du Hamel. In a shrubbery, as Cowper beautifully describes 

 it, the Guelder rose has a striking appearance, rising 



" tail, 



And throwing up into the darkest gloom 

 Of neighbouring cypress, or more sable yew, 

 Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf 

 That the wind severs from the broken wave." 



On the lawns of small gardens, and trained up with a single stem, it forms one 

 of the most splendid of small trees ; coming into flower soon after the scarlet 

 hawthorn, the Scotch laburnum, and the purple lilac. The fruit of the 

 species is eaten in Sweden ; where, and in Russia, the young shoots are made 

 into tubes for tobacco-pipes, and handles for whips. Pallas informs us that, 

 in Siberia, the berries are fermented with flour, and a spirit distilled from 

 them ; or made into a paste with honey and flour, and eaten as food, though 

 the pulp and juice of the berry have a very fetid odour. In British gardens, 

 the species is propagated by seed, and the variety by layers. The price of 

 plants is the same as for V. Lantana. 



ft 16. V. (O.) ^CERIFO V LIUM L. The Maple-leaved Guelder Rose. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 383. ; Pursh Fl. Sept Amer., 1. p. 203. ; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 327. 5 Hook. Fl. 



Bor. Amer., 1. p. 280. ; Don's Mill., 3. p. 442. 

 Engravings. Vent. Hort Cels., t. 72. ; Wats. Dend. Brit, 1. 118. ; and our fig. 793. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Branchlets and petioles pilose. Leaves jy|* 793 

 ovate-cordate, usually 3-lobed, acuminated, sharply and 

 loosely serrated, downy beneath. Petioles glandless, 

 and, when young, stipulaceous at the base, and rather 

 tomentose. Corymbs terminal, pedunculate, not ra- 

 diant. Flowers white. Berries black, oval, and com- 

 pressed. (Dow's Mill., iii. p. 442.) A native of North 

 America, from New England to Carolina, in rocky 

 mountainous situations ; where it forms a shrub from 

 4ft. to 6 ft. high, flowering in May and June. It was 

 introduced in 1736; and, judging from the plants in the 

 Horticultural Society's Garden, and at Messrs. Lod- 

 diges's, it appears to be only a variety of V. O'pulus. 



ft 17. V. (O.) ORIENT A'LE Pall. The Eastern Guelder Rose. 



Identification. Pall. Ross., t. 58. f. H. ; Dec. Prod., 4. p. 328. ; Bieb. Fl. Taur., 1. p. 245. ; Don's Mill., 3. 

 p. 442. 



Synonyme. O'pulus orientalis fblio amplfssimo tridentato Tourn. Cor., p. 42. 



Engraving. Pall. Fl. Ross., t 58. f. H. 



Spec. Cfiar. t Sfc. Leaves 3-lobed, acuminated, coarsely and bluntly toothed. Petioles glandless, gla- 

 lirous. Corymbs terminal, not radiant. Fruit oblong, compressed. Flowers white. Seed oval, 

 furnished with two channels on both sides, as in V. Lant&na. Very like the preceding species. 



