@.40) CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 107 
Genus 39. AMELANCHIER. 
Small trees or shrubs with simple, deciduous, alternate, 
sharply serrate leaves; cherry-blossom-like, white flow- 
ers, in racemes at the end of the branches, before the 
leaves are fully expanded. Fruit a small aprle-like pome; 
seeds 10 or less, in separate cartilaginous-coated cells. 
Amelanchier Canadénsis, Torr. & Gray. 
(SHAD-BUSH. SERVICE-BERRY.) A very vari- 
able species with many named varieties. The 
leaves, 1 to 344 in. long, vary from narrow- 
oblong to roundish or cordate; bracts and 
stipules silky-ciliate. Flowers large, in droop- 
ing racemes, in early spring, with petals from 
2 to 5 times as long as wide. Fruit globular, 
15 in. broad, purplish, sweet, edible; ripe in A. Canadensis. 
June. It varies from alow shrub to a middle-sized tree, 5 to 30 ft. 
high. 
Orper XIX. HAMAMELIDE. 
(WITCH-HAZEL FaMILy.) 
A small family of trees and shrubs represented in most 
countries. 
Genus 40. HAMAMELIS. 
Tall shrubs, rarely tree-like, with alternate, straight- 
veined, 2-ranked, oval, wavy-margined leaves. Flowers 
conspicuous, yellow, 4-parted; blooming in the autumn 
while the leaves are dropping, and continuing in bloom 
through part of the winter. Fruit rounded capsules 
which do not ripen till the next summer. 
7 
A, Hamamélis Virginidna, L. (WITCH-HAZEL.) 
The only species; 10 to 30 ft. high; rarely grows 
with a single trunk, but usually forms a slender, 
Ves erooked-branched shrub. Flowers sessile, in small 
4 clusters of 3 to 4, in an involuere in the axils of the 
H. Virginiana. leaves. 
