Handbook of Tkees of the Soi;tiiei;n States and Canada. 413 



The Black or Sweet ITaw is a low bushy tree, 

 sometiiues attaining the heiglit of 25 or 3U ft. 

 with trunk 8 or lu in. in iliunieter, and is 

 often slirubby, especially in the northern part 

 of its range. It develops a wide rounded top 

 of many rigid branches and frecpient spur-like 

 branchlets, and its trunk is often crooked or 

 inclined. 



It inhabits mainly dry rocky liill-sides and 

 uplands, freijuently along fence rows and road- 

 sides, where its sL>cds liave been dropped by 

 the birds. Itarer fo llic westward it is espa- 

 cially common in the vicinity of the coast. 

 Like the otiier arborescent re]>resentati' e; of 

 the genus, its glossy leaves and numerous 

 clusters of white llowers and ornamental fruit 

 have made this tree ]iopular for ornamental 

 planting, in parks and private grounds both 

 in this country and in Europe. 



The fruit is very sweet and occasionally 

 eaten by children, but is of no practical im- 

 portance. 



Its close-grained hard wood is unimportant 



commercially, but the bark is used in nu'dicine, 



as it possesses neurotic, antispasmodic, tonic 



and diuretic properties. 



Lean's nval to ovate or occasionally ohovatc, 

 1-.*!! in. long, obtuse or rounded at base and oI>tnsc 

 or aciitish at apex, finely serrate, at maturity 

 firm, coriaceous, shinin.i; dark green above, paler 

 and glabrous beneath : peti<:tlcs about I/2 in. long, 

 grooved and nearl.v tiu'ctc or on vigorous shuots 

 slightly margined. FUnri'i-s white. Vi in. wide, in 

 severai-rayed cymes 2-4 in. across. Fruit, ripe in 

 October, oval "or snbglobose, glaucous, bliii'-black 

 in red-stemmed few-frnited clusters : stone fiat or 

 slightly conTe.x one side, blackisb.^ 



1. I'^ 



4.'.' 



