THE GUELDER ROSE. 



191 



THE FLOWER AND BERRIES. 



The Guelder Rose flowers in June and July. The blossom forms 

 a flat umbel oi" florets, of which the outer are the earliest to expand. 



These outer florets are about three-quarters- 

 of-an-inch across, pure white, and tilted 

 slightly away from the centre of the cluster. 

 This circle of barren blossoms encloses a 

 mass of smaller fertile ones of a creamy- 

 white colour. The latter have five petals 

 united, starting above the ovary, and have 

 both stamens and pistil ; from the latter 

 the berries are produced. The tendency of 

 neuter or barren flowers (having neither 

 pistil nor stamens) is to become larger in 

 process of time, and this tendency, accentu- 

 ated by artificial means, has resulted in 

 the cultivated species of Guelder Rose, 

 which bears " snowballs " of barren flowers 

 only. It is devoid of the interest attaching to the wild species, and 

 far less beautiful. 



The berries are oval in shape, each one supported by a short 

 stalk springing from a cluster of larger stalks which radiate from a 

 common centre. The main stalk is bent by the weight of the 

 berries, though far less so than in the case of the Elder-berry. 



Before the berries ripen they are tinted yellow on the side ex- 

 posed to the light. In September they resemble white-heart cherries 

 in colour and texture, and are full of juice. They turn at last to a 

 bright scarlet and ruby, and remain on the trees during the winter, 

 gradually becoming pulpy and more transparent. 



6-uei.DeR ROSE — THE eiowzn 



The outer flowers are usually much larger. 

 The inner ones are life-size. 



