Handbook of Teees of the Noetjieen States and Canada. 



US 



Tlie Servirc-hn rv is \isufilly a smal) tree but 

 occasionally iiuliviiliials arc f{iuiul 40 or 50 it. 

 in height with trunk from IS in. to 2 ft. in 

 diameter, anil oblong or spreailing roumled lop 

 with many small limbs and line branelilets. 



It inhabits well drained slopes and uplands 

 in company with the (Juaking Asp, Hemlock, 

 White and lied Oaks, Sugar Maple, Hackberry, 

 etc.. and in mid-spring, when its top becomes a 

 veritable cloud oi wliitc flowers, it is one of 

 the most beautiful and conspicuous objects in 

 the regions in wliieh it dwells. It is the sea- 

 eon then when the shad come up the rivers from 

 the sea to spawn, and hence the association of 

 its flowers with the shad in its names of 

 Shad-bvish and SInid-blow. in June and July 

 its ripened fruit is eagerly sought liy the 

 birds and should they spare us any it is found 

 to be juicy and delicious. 



The wood of the Service-berry, of which a 

 cubic foot weighs when absolutely dry 48.8.') 

 lbs., is heavy, hard, very stron,!j and close 

 grained, valuable in turnery for the manufac- 

 ture of tool handles and, under the name of 

 " Lance-wood," is used in the manufacture of 

 fish rods.i 



Leares ovate to rjvate-oltl'tim. 21/.-4 in. lon^, 

 mostly ronntled or cordate at base, ncnte or acumi- 

 nate at apex, finely serrafi> wiili loni^ iiointed 

 teeth, reddish and covered willi white hairs when 

 they unfold, at maturity ^laliriMts. dark green 

 above, paler beneath, turnins yellow in autumn ; 

 petioles slender. Flotrcys. when the leaves are 

 about 1-.3 grown, in erect or nodding: .tflabrous 

 racemes, 2i/^-4 in. long, with slender pedicels 

 bearing each two silky deciduous bracts : calyx 

 villous inside: petals narrow obovnte. Fruit suli- 

 globose, Vi-Mi in. in diamct^'r, dark purple. 

 glaucous. 2 



1. Syn. A. Botryiiijunn i L. f. i dee'. 



2. A. W., Ill, 59. 



3. For genus see pp. 4:>9-44u. 



