STRAWBERRY-SHRUB FAMILY 



Sfai/icns. — Numerous, inserted just within the petals, short, in 

 several rows, some of the inner ones sterile ; anthers adnate, in- 

 trorse. 



Pistil. — Carpels several, enclosed in the calyx-tube, inserted 

 on its base and inner face, resembling the rose-hip in structure. 



Fruit. — A large, drooping, pear-shaped receptacle two inches 

 long and one and one-fourth inches in diameter, to which the 

 bases of petals, sepals and bracts are adnate, and which encloses 

 few to many smooth, shining achenes. September. 



The Sweet-scented Shrub has been for years a gar- 

 den favorite because of the strawberry fragrance of 

 its flowers ; even the stems and small branches emit a 

 spicy perfume when bruised or broken. The color of 

 the flower is a reddish chocolate brown, but the tints 

 are unstable and the flower fades as it gets older. Also, 

 as it ages the petals spread and flatten so as to make a 

 loose rosette. The behavior of the flower buds when 

 the warm spring days come is most interesting. 

 The scales quickly fall, leaving two tiny leaves that 

 closely surround and thoroughly protect the little 

 brown ball of the flower ; and as it increases in size 

 they enlarge, but they do not give up their protective 

 attitude until both are well on toward maturity. 



Many lovers of flow^ers have cultivated the Straw- 

 berry-shrub in their gardens ; have delighted in the 

 delicious fragrance of its blossoms ; and have wondered 

 that no fruit seemed ever to follow. How the plant 

 reproduced itself was a question ; doubtless in some 

 wonderful way w^hich common people knew nothing 

 about. It is true that our common garden species 

 rarely fruits in domestication ; but there is another 

 species native to the south which fruits abundantly ; in- 

 deed, by so doing it has won its specific name Biitneria 



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