STUDIES OF PLANT LIFE 



height of ten to fifteen feet in damp localities. The sweet 

 nut is round and thick shelled, the involucral calyx spread- 

 ing at the tips and more open than in the former species. 

 The foliage is round, somewhat cordate, or heart-shaped, 

 coarsely pointed and serrated. The flowers, which are of 

 two kinds in this genus, come successively before the unfold- 

 ing of the leaves. The two species are very distinct in their 

 appearance and character, the Beaked Hazelnut bearing 

 more likeness to the Filbert, while the present species re- 

 sembles the common Hazelnut. 



The classical name, Gorylus, is derived from a Greek word 

 signifying a helmet, from the shape of the calyx. 



KED-BERRIED ELDER Sambucus pubens (Michx.). 



The red-fruited Elder is often confounded by ignorant 

 persons with the Rhus Toxicodendron, to which the names 

 of Poison Elder, Poison Oak, and Poison Ivy have been 

 given, thus transferring the evil qualities of the poisonous 

 Rhus to a perfectly harmless shrubby tree, which deserves 

 to be redeemed from such slanders. The Ked-berried Elder 

 is widely distributed over the Dominion of Canada. 



In every waste place, on old neglected fallows which 

 have been subjected to the ravages of fire, in corners of 

 fences, and even in gardens, if care be not taken to ruth- 

 lessly root out the intruder, this hardy native may be found. 

 The panicles of greenish-white flowers may be seen in the 

 month of May, among black and burnt stumps and girdled 

 pines, enlivening the coarse verdure of the dull-green 

 pinnated leaves and gray warty branches; the flowers of 

 this species, as well as those of the Black-berried Elder, 

 8. Canadensis (L.), emit a faint but sickly odor. The 

 flowers of the latter species are whiter, borne in much larger 

 and flatter cymes, and do not appear until June. 



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