Handbook of Teees of the Xoktiiern States and Canada. 233 



The Narrow-leaf Crab is a small tree, ocea 

 sionally attaininj; the lieight of 25 or 30 ft., 

 with a trunk S-10 in. in diameter. When 

 isolated it develops a broad top with rigid 

 branches armed with numerous short spur-like 

 lateral branchlets. The bark of trunk is of a 

 grayish brown color, rough, with narrow scaly 

 ridges. 



It inhabits the banks of streams and rich 

 well drained soil, often in the glades of forests 

 of taller trees, when it can find sufficient light 

 there, and in these regions its beautiful white 

 and pink fragrant flowers are especially pleas- 

 ing as one happens onto them. No tree of the 

 American forest produces flowers of more ile- 

 licious fragrance. Should one visit the lncality 

 in late summer a. very different yet quite as 

 marked fragrance arrest- his attention, per- 

 haps when several yards from the tree. Now 

 it is from its small pale yellow apples, much 

 more pleasing to the sense of smell than of 

 taste, for they are verv acerb, though sometimes 

 used for preserves and cider. 



The wood, of which a cubic foot wdien dry 



weighs 42.07 lbs., is liard and very close 



grained and suitable for the manufacture of 



tool-handles, etc. 



Lrnrrs oblnni^ to otilong-lanceolatc, mostl.v tapm-- 

 ins or roundiyd at base, acute or rounded and 

 apiculate at apcK, crenate-serrate, sometimes 

 nenrly entire, thicliish, dark green above, paler 

 and glat)rous beneath : petioles slender. Fhnr-r^ 

 abotit 1 in. across, very fra.srant. with slcnd t 

 pedicels in few-fiowered" cymes ; calyx lobes nar- 

 row, tomentose inside ; petals white or pink : 

 ovary tomentose : styles distinct. Fruit flattened 

 globose, about 1 in. in diameter, fragrant, yellow- 

 green with waxy surface and very sour flavor. 



1. Syn. Maliix ini(iu!iti!:il in I.Vit.l Mlchx. 



