THE CLIMAX FOREST AND ITS PREDECESSOR 



207 



in spring before the leaves. These blossoms appear on short 



branches that come out from the main trunk and main branches. 



Even when not in 



blossom the tree may 



be recognized by the 



presence of these 



short, stubby, flower- 

 ing branches. 



The maple-leaved 



viburnum is similar 



to the high bush cran- 

 berry (Fig. 259) which 



is also a viburnum. 



It is a lower shrub, 



3-5 feet high, with 



maple-like leaves that 



are downy below and 



fruits that are at first 



red, then purple. 



The nannyberry 



(Fig. 260), also a 



viburnum, has upper 



leaves that are taper-pointed and the leaf stems are winged. 



The fruit is black. Spicebush (Fig. 298) is recognized readily 



by the spicy odor of the crushed leaves and twigs. The high 



bush cranberry is a fairly tall 

 shrub or low tree with oval, 

 finely toothed leaves. The 

 flower cluster of small white 

 blossoms is large, and the red 

 fruits conspicuous. The con- 

 tained seed is flat. The wahoo 

 (Fig. 261) is generally recog- 



'fig. 255.-Twig of witch-hazel, i7a;;;a- "^^^^ ^y the four corky ridges 

 melis virginiana. that run longitudinally on 



Fig. 254. — Flowering dogwood, leaf and blossom, 

 Cornus florida. 



