ROSACES 359 



enlarged at the apex into broad truncate stigmas; ovules 2 in each cell, ascending; 

 raphe dorsal ; micropyle inferior. Fruit obovoid, fleshy, the thickened calyx-tube 

 connate to the middle only with the membranaceous carpels coated above with long 

 white hairs filling the cavity closed by the infolding of the thickened persistent calyx- 

 lobes, their tips erect and crowning the fruit. Seed usually solitary in each cell, 

 ovate, obtuse, slightly ridged on the back ; seed-coat membranaceous, slightly punc- 

 tate, light brown; hilum orbicular, conspicuous; embryo filling the cavity of the seed; 

 cotyledons plano-convex; radicle short, inferior. 



The genus is represented by a single species of western North America. 



The generic name, from eVepos and M^OV, is in reference to its difference from related 

 genera. 



1. Heteromeles arbutifolia, Roem. Tollon. Toyon. 



Leaves appearing with the flowers in early summer, 3'-4' long, I'-l^' wide, usu- 

 ally persistent during at least two winters; their petioles ^'-f long. Flowers open- 

 ing from June to August in clusters 4'-6' across and often more or less hidden by 

 young lateral branchlets rising above them. Fruit ripening in November and Decem- 

 ber, mealy, astringent, and acid, remaining on the branches until late in the winter. 



A tree, sometimes 30 high, with a straight trunk 12'-18' in diameter, dividing a 



few feet above the ground into many erect branches forming a handsome narrow 

 round-topped head, and slender branchlets covered at first with pale pubescence, in 

 their first winter dark red and slightly puberulous, ultimately becoming darker and 

 glabrous. Winter-buds |' long. Bark '-' thick, light gray, with a generally 

 smooth surface roughened by obscure reticulate ridges. Wood very heavy, hard, 

 close-grained, dark red-brown, with thin lighter colored sapwood of 7 or 8 layers of 

 annual growth. The fruit-covered branches are gathered in large quantities and used 

 in California in Christmas decorations. 



Distribution. Usually in the neighborhood of streams or on dry hills and espe- 

 cially on their northern slopes and often on steep sea-cliffs ; California coast region 

 from Mendocino County to Lower California; most common and of its largest size 

 on the islands off the California coast; on the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada and on 

 the San Bernardino Mountains up to elevations of 2000 above the sea and usually 



