204 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



cordate and slightly unequal at the base, subacute or rounded at the 

 apex, white and with scurfy pubescence on the very prominent veins 

 beneath when young, and with thinly-scattered stellate hairs on 

 the upper surface. Mowcring-shoots straight, stout, generally with 

 fascicles of leaves in the axils, and terminated by compact much- 

 branched cymes, 2- to 3 inches across. Flowers £ inch in diameter, 

 cream-white ; calyx-scgmcnts small, triangular ; corolla between 

 funnel-shaped and salver-shaped, with the segments of the limb 

 ovate. Stamens exserted. Style very short and thick. Berry 

 f inch long, elliptical-oval, laterally compressed, so as to be flatfish 

 at first, dull-red, turning to nearly black when fully ripe in 

 autumn. Leaves dull-green, much paler and whitish beneath. 



Wayfaring-tree, Meal-tree. 



French, Yiorne Mancienne. German, Wollige Schlinge. 



The pliant branches of this attractive tree give it its specific name. It is from the 

 Latin word lento, I make pliant. In a state of good culture, in a free soil, it forms a 

 handsome and durable small tree about 18 or 20 feet in height. It is a pleasant enli- 

 vener of more sombre foliage, and its ample heads of white flowers, which have caused it 

 sometimes to be called the cotton-tree, are very charming objects. The fruit, which is 

 at first green, then bright-red, and afterwards black, is greedily eaten by birds, and is 

 not unpleasant to the taste, but is considered by some refreshing and astringent. The 

 leaves in autumn assume a rich deep-red colour. The bark of the root will furnish bird- 

 lime in the same way as the holly. The shoots are said by Pallas to be used in southern 

 Lussia for making pipe-stems. The bark is so acrid as to produce blisters when applied 

 to the skin, and its use has been suggested by some writers for producing such effects 

 medicinally. The wood is white and hard, and may be employed for many purposes in 

 turning and cabinet-making. In Switzerland the fruit is used for making ink. Some 

 beautiful lines, written by William Howitt, on the Wayfaring- tree, have been copied by 

 nearly all writers on the subject from the time of Loudon ; but as all our readers may 

 not know them, I cannot help quoting a few verses. 



" Wayfaring-tree ! what ancient claim 

 Hast thou to that right pleasant name 1 

 Was it that some faint pilgrim came 



Unhopedly to thee 

 In the browu desert's weary way, 

 'Mid toil and thirst's consuming sway ; 

 And there, as 'neath thy shade he lay, 

 Blest the wayfaring-tree 1 



" Or is it that thou lov'st to show 

 Thy coronets of fragrant snow, 

 Like life's spontaneous joys that flow 



In paths by thousands beat ? 

 Whate'er it be, I love it well ; 

 A name, methiuks, that surely fell 

 From poet, in some evening dell 



Wandering with fancies sweet." 



