Handbook op Trees of the Northebn States and Canada. 233 



The NarrOw-leaf Crab is a small tree, ocea 

 sionally attaining the height of 25 or 30 ft., 

 with a trunk 8-10 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 de- 

 licious fragrance. Should one visit the locality 

 in late summer a very different yet quite as 

 marked fragrance arrests his attention, per- 

 haps when several yards from the tree. Xow 

 it is from its small pale yellow apples, much 

 more pleasing to the sense of smell than of 

 taste, for they are very acerb, though sometimes 

 used for preserves and cider. 



The wood, of which a cubic foot when dry 

 weighs 42.97 lbs., is hard and very close 

 grained and suitable for the manufacture of 

 tool-handles, etc. 



Leaves ohlong to oblong-lanceolate, mostly taper- 

 ing or rounded at base, acute or rounded and 

 apiculate at ape.N:, crenate-serrate, sometimes 

 nearly entire, thickish, dark green above, paler 

 and glabrous beneath : petioles slender. Flon-"rs 

 about 1 in. across, very fragrant, with slender 

 pedicels in few-flowered 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. 



I. Syn. Mulus anyuxtifnlia (.\it.) Miclix. 



