Handbook of Teees of the Ni 



iKv;x Statks and ('axada. 



2o9 



The AnieiitMn j\Jount;iin-Asb is a slender 

 tree rarely more than :iO or 41) ft. in height 

 or than 12 in. in diameter of :riia;, and often 

 reduced to a shrub. When away from the 

 influence of other trees it develops a rather 

 narrow rounded top of slender branches and 

 stout branehlets. 



It is one of the most beautiful trees of our 

 northern forests, as is attested by the fact that 

 it is more abundantly than any other tree, 

 excepting the following species, transplanted 

 from the forests to the door yards of country 

 homes for ornamental purposes, where its 

 handsome foliage is a constant delight. The 

 large bunches of small white flowers which 

 terminate its branehlets in early summer add 

 greatly to its beauty and olTer abundant nectiir 

 to the searching bees. In autumn, when the 

 flowers of summer are succeeded by its ample 

 bunches of red berries, it is even a more beau- 

 tiful object, and its fruit, long lingering after 

 the leaves have fallen, offers to the departing 

 robin and bluebird their last repast before 

 leaving for their winter homes. 



The wood i-^ soft, li^lit, a cubic foot weigh- 

 ing .S.'i.fl" lbs., and very (dose grained but of 

 litlle economic value. 



T.rnrrs ti-.S in. Ions, with srcou or reddisli 

 petioles, and 9-17 lanceolate taper-pointed leatlrts. 

 rounded or obtuse, entire and (Uiequal at tiasi-. 

 sharply serrate above, subsrssili' I excepting tin- 

 terminal leaflet) slabroiis. dark' i^rci-n above, iialcr 

 bpnoath ; leaf-buds glabrous glntintuis. Plnirtrs in 

 Ma.v. ^l-^'t in. across, in druse broad cymes. '^-r> 

 in. across. Fruit subglobose. i.i in. in diametei'.^ 



1. Syn. Piinis Americana DC. 



-. l''n|- ,!;enn.': see p. -l;;'l. 



