802 



THE NATURE BOOK 



FRUITS OF WILD GUELDER ROSE. 



are generally rounded at the base, show 

 I luce or five angular divisions, into each 

 (i| which a strong rib passes. Each rib 

 radiates from tlie place of junction with 

 the stalk, and terminates in one of the 

 leaf points. The margins are irregularly 

 toothed. The leaf is thin and smooth, 

 without hairs above, and with few on the 

 under side. At the top of the leaf-stalk 

 are two or more reddish honey-glands., 

 similar to those on the Cherry. At the 

 base of the stalk are two narrow stipules, 

 which also have honey-glands. Lord 

 A\-ebury suggests that these glands serve 

 a useful purpose in attracting ants and 

 wasps as a protection, or bodyguard, 

 against inroads of caterpillars, especially 

 whilst the leaves are young. In the 

 autumn the leaf colouring is various, 

 and particularly rich, with shades of 

 yellow, pink, maroon and crimson. 



The flowers, which are a very clear 

 white, are grouped and flatly extended 

 as those of the Elder. Thev are borne 



The Guelder Rose, or Snowball 

 Tree, of our gardens is but a variety, 

 if it were not better described as a 

 monstrosity, of the wild shrub ; yet 

 by a curious perversion it has gi\'en 

 to this shrub its popular name. 

 Guelder (or Dutch Gclderland) Rose. 



The Wild Guelder Rose is found 

 chiefly in moist places. It loves the 

 steep banks of small streams, so 

 growing that its stems are often 

 under water in flood-time. There, in 

 May or June, it displays its platter- 

 hke clusters of porcelain-white flowers, 

 supported above the vivid greenery 

 of its newly exjmnded foliage. Later, 

 on the approach of autumn, more 

 conspicuous still, so long as the birds 

 allow, it is jewelled over with clus- 

 tered fruits, all ruby-red and brilliant, 



From the base it })uts up several 

 long and slender stems, a little strag- 

 gling, the twigs of which are smooth 

 and polished, yellow or l)n)wn in 

 colour. The buds, in opposite jxiirs, 

 arc oval, rather fat and pointed. 

 Each is enclosed in what ai)pears to 

 be a single scale, formed, howe\er, by 

 the fusion of two, bright red in colour, 

 and slightly sticky. The leaves, which 



LEAVES OF WILD GUl.LUKK ROSE. 



