PYRUs IOENSIS 



distincl from the eastern crab, which I have ever found, 

 i- Wood's characterization of as it /'. coronaria, var. 

 loensis, in I860, as follows: "Lvs. (when yonng), 

 pedicels and calyx denselj tomentous. Lvs. « » \" <• 1 1 « • and 

 oblong, distinctly lobed ; (fr. doI seen). Senl from 

 [una l>y Dr. Cousens." Pyrus loensis i> a variable 

 species. The leaves on yonng and strong shoots 

 sometimes triangular- ovate, l>ut the Munt teeth, 

 thick petioles and white tomentnm distinguish them 

 from /'. coronaria, the leaves of which upon similar 

 shoots are very sharp -toothed. The flower-clusters and 

 apanying foliage, barring the white pubescence, 

 are often much like p. angustifoliu. It is not improb- 

 able that it uia\ 1m- found to simulate /'. coronaria 

 upon its eastern limit-. I am convinced that this 

 prairie -tat.- crab i- sufficiently distincl from the east- 

 ern crab to in- held a- a valid Bpecies. It has a nor 

 mal range, marked technical botanical features, ami 

 a very distincl fruit. Pigs. 4f»-4* are characteristic. 



In their native and unmixed state, the fruits of 

 these wild crabs offer little promise to the horticul- 

 turist. In newly Bettled localities thej are sometimes 

 gathered for winter use, hut tiny are then used in 

 cookery, although I have known of the fruil of Pyrus 

 coronaria being buried until Bpring, when it becomes 

 fairly edible, when other fruil is not to be had. Cider 

 ilso been made from these wild crabs. Sargent 

 Pyrus coronaria i "'The fruit i> used tor pre- 

 ind i- often manufactured into cider;" ami 

 the same remark i- made of /'. angustifolia. Hum- 

 phrey Marshall, over a hundred years a'_ r o. speaks of 



tin- fruit of PyritX > oronat'ia .1- "small, hard, roiimli.-h. 



ambilieated, ami extremelj acid. It is frequently 



