FLOWERING SHRUBS 



bear on the summits of the branches of the previous year 

 the light pinkish flowers, which are three to eight in 

 number, on rather long pedicels and drooping in a one- 

 sided raceme; the stamens are ten in number and remain 

 persistent on the dry berry-like capsule. The leaves are 

 shining green above, glaucous-white beneath, and have the 

 margins so strongly revolute as to appear almost linear. 

 This plant is said to have astringent and narcotic properties 

 and to give intoxicating qualities to liquids in which it is 

 infused. 



SILKY CORNEL KINNIKINNIC Cornus sericea (L.). 



This species is the true Kinnikinnic of the Indians of 

 central Canada, the leaves and bark being used by them in the 

 place of tobacco, or mixed with it. I have been told it is of 

 an intoxicating quality. The bark is used also as a tonic 

 and febrifuge. The berries are pale blue; the flowers form 

 flat cymes and are greenish-white; the young bark is pur- 

 plish. The bush grows to the height of eight to ten feet, in 

 low damp rich ground forming dense thickets. There is a 

 fine white silky fibre in the leaves, w r hich may be seen by 

 breaking the mid-rib across. The thread is as fine and as 

 frail as the delicate web with which some spiders envelop 

 their eggs too fine to be turned to any use. 



The silken thread is not confined to this species alone, it 

 exists in many other trees and plants. In the nerves of 

 several of the Dogwoods it is seen quite as conspicuously as 

 in C. sericea. 



PANICLED OR PRIVET-LEAVED CORNEL Cornus paniculata 



(L'Her.). 



This is a very pretty species of Dogwood found abundantly 

 on the Rice Lake plains, on the high dry hills between the 



13 193 



