312 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 
Pyrus ioensis. Iowa Crab. Wild Crab. Western Crab. 
Leaves simple, oblong or obovate-oval, variously notched 
and toothed; the lower surface as well as the leaf stalks, short 
pedicels and young growth densely white pubescent. Flowers 
rose-colored, fragrant, much like those of Pyrus coronaria, with 
which this species was formerly classed and is now sometimes 
referred to as a variety. Fruit round, somewhat flattened, dull 
green with small light dots, hard, bitter, keeps through the 
winter. A small tree. 
Distribution Minnesota and Wisconsin, south to Kentucky 
and Indian Territory. 
Propagation.—By seeds or by graftage. It docs not form a 
durable union wth Pyrus malus, although such unions may last 
several years. 
Propertics of wood.—Heavy, close grained, not hard nor 
strong; brown to light red in color, with thick yellow sap- 
wood. Specific gravity 0.7048; weight of a cubic foot 43.92 
pounds. 
Uses.—The Iowa Crab, with its large fragrant flowers, forms 
a very pretty small ornamental tree. The fruit is made into 
preserves and cider. When growing in its natural state the 
tree is hardy and is seldom injured by fire-blight, but seems 
to be very much subject to this disease when cultivated, es- 
pecially after it has been transplanted. 
Pyrus americana. Mountain Ash. American Mountain 
Ash. 
Leaves odd-pinnate; leaflets eleven to seventeen, lanceolate, 
taper-pointed, bright green above, gencrally paler beneath. 
Flowers in large compound leafy cymes, appearing in May or 
June. Fruit usually three-celled, globose or slightly pear- 
shaped, bright red with thin flesh, one-fourth inch in diameter, 
ripens in Jate autumn and remains on the tree all winter unless 
eaten by birds. A small tree with smooth bark seldom reach- 
ing a height of thirty feet, and often a mere shrub. 
Distribution.—From Newfoundland to Manitoba and south- 
wards through the more elevated portions of northeastern 
United States and the region of the Great Lakes. It reaches 
its greatest size north of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, In 
