53. 
THE MEDLAR. 
Mespilus germanica. 
Prate 6, Fie. 4. 
<4 ULTIVATED for its fruit—which, 
\} strange to say, is not eatable 
until it is in a state of semi-decay 
—the Common Medlar is a Tree 
of modest dimensions. Its leaves 
are entire at their edges, and of a 
pointed oval shape, furnished on each side 
of their midveins with a system of branch- 
ing, wavy, forked veinlets, which run 
towards the leaf margins. The leaves are soft and 
downy on their under sides; the flowers are white, 
have five petals, and are borne singly on the 
branches. The fruit, which usually ripens about 
