264 NATURAL HISTORY. 



The fruit, resembling black cherries, oblong, and pointed 

 at one end. Native of Trebizond, but frequently planted 

 in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean ; some- 

 times as far north as Germany, where, however, the fruit 

 never ripens. Fruit is thin, black, of a sweetish taste, 

 but not poisonous. Leaves, flowers, and kernels contain 

 a large quantity of prussic acid ; wherefore, if eaten in 

 large quantity, they are not only dangerous, but prove a 

 a deadly poison. The taste resembles that of bitter 

 almonds, h. 



The Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Alpine, Wood, or 

 English Strawberry. Calyx concave, deeply five-cleft; 

 receptacle oblong; becomes enlarged and conical, pulpy 

 and scarlet, forming the fruit, and bearing the minute, 

 dry achenia, or seeds, scattered over its surface. Leaves 

 oblong, notched, hairy, and ternate ; stems, or rather 

 runners, creep over the earth for several feet, occasion- 

 ally taking root, thus serving as a propagation of the 

 plant. Flowers in May or June. The flavor of the 

 wild strawberry is considered superior to that of the 

 cultivated, of which there are many varieties. Among 

 them is the Hautboy (F. elatior, Ehrh.) Chili straw- 

 berry and Hovey's Seedling a relative species, which 

 blooms perpetually. Is in Europe cultivated in gardens 

 by way of ornament, and trained to climb on a trellis. 

 The fruit, however, although beautiful, has no flavor. 2. 



Cinque-Foil Five-Finger Goose- Grass (Poten- 

 tilla anserina). Stem creeping ; leaves irregular; vel- 

 vety above, silver-hued below ; feather-veined ; flowers, 

 yellow ; receptacle dry and persistent. Native of Lap- 

 land and Norway, but very common in North America. 

 Grows in pasture fields and by road-sides. Said to be a 



