130 TREES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



three or four, the upper the largest. Leaves compound, once 

 to twice pinnate, both forms often in the same leaf, alternate, 

 6 inches to 1 foot long, rachis abruptly enlarged at base and 

 covering the winter buds; leaflets 18-28, f-1^- inches long, 

 about one-third as wide, yellowish-green when unfolding, 

 turning to dark green above, slightly lighter beneath, yellow 

 in autumn ; outline lanceolate, oblong to oval, obscurely crenu- 

 late-serrate ; apex obtuse, scarcely mucronate ; base mostly 

 rounded; leafstalks and leaves downy, especially when young. 



Inflorescence. Early June. From lateral or terminal buds 

 on the old wood, in slender, pendent, greenish racemes scarcely 

 distinguishable among the young leaves ; sterile and fertile 

 flowers on different trees or on the same tree and even in the 

 same cluster ; calyx somewhat campanulate, 3-5-cleft ; petals 

 3-5, somewhat wider than the sepals, and inserted with the 

 3-10 stamens on the calyx ; pistil in sterile flowers abortive 

 or wanting, conspicuous in the fertile flowers. Parts of the 

 flower more or less pubescent, arachnoid-pubescent within, 

 near the base. 



Fruit. Pods dull red, 1-1^- feet long, flat, pendent, and 

 often twisted, containing several flat brown seeds. 



Horticultural Value. -- Hardy throughout New England, 

 grows in any well-drained soil, but prefers a deep, rich loam ; 

 transplants readily, grows rapidly, is long-lived, free from 

 disease, and makes a picturesque object in ornamental planta- 

 tions, but is objectionable in public places and highly finished 

 grounds on account of the stiff spines, which are a source of 

 danger to pedestrians, and also on account of the long strap- 

 shaped pods, which litter the ground. There is a thornless 

 form which is better adapted than the type for ornamental 

 purposes. The type is sometimes offered in nurseries at a 

 low price by the quantity. Propagated from seed. 



PLATE LXVI. GLEDITSIA TRIACANTHOS. 



1. Winter buds. 5. Flowering branch, flowers mostly 



2. Winter buds with thorns. fertile. 



3. Flowering branch. 6. Fertile flower, enlarged. 



4. Sterile flower, enlarged. 7. Fruiting branch. 



8. Leaf partially twice pinnate. 



