APPLE FAMILY 



Fruit. — Pome, sweetish, rather dry, one-quarter of an inch in 

 diameter, globose, or somewhat depressed, red, not histrous, 

 bearing the remnants of the calyx-lobes and stamens. Septem- 

 ber, October ; persistent until early winter. 



The Choke-berries are distinctly ornamental plants. 

 Their foliage color is good, being a rich shining green, 

 so that the plant is attractive for its color alone. Three 

 species are now recorded ; and the specific differences 

 lie in the fruit rather than in the leaves or flowers. The 

 red-fruited species is the one most abundant in the 

 south ; the other two are northern. Why these berries 

 are not attractive to birds is something of a puzzle : 

 the flesh is somewhat dry, to be sure, but the flavor is 

 agreeable ; and yet the fact remains that birds pass 

 them by, for others distinctly inferior and unpleasant. 

 All the Choke-berries are excellent, country roadside 

 shrubs. 



Purple-fruited Choke-berry, Aronia atropiirpurca, was 

 long confused with Aronia nigra, from which it differs 

 in habit, and in the color of its fruit. This is the tall- 

 est of the Choke-berries, sometimes reaching a height 

 of twelve feet. In shape and size the leaves are not 

 distinguishable from those of the other species of the 

 genus; and the glandular midrib is a marked character 

 common to them all. The flowers are white, about 

 half an inch across, borne in terminal corymbs ; cal3^x 

 and pedicles tomentose. The fruit is not quite black, 

 rather a deep purple ; it remains on the bush until 

 early winter. 



The Black Choke-berry, Aronia nigra, is usually a 

 lower bush than either of the others. It is found in 

 swamps, or low woods, sometimes in dryer soil. The 



I go 



