IIakduook of TrivKs of the Xoktukrx States axd Caxada. 241 



The Large-fruited ^Mountain-Ash is a hand- 

 some tree, sometimes attaining the height of 

 30 ft. witli trunk 12 in. in diameter and vested 

 in a smooth lustrous silvery gray bark. When 

 isolated from other trees it develops a sym- 

 metrical ovoid or rounded top. It is distinctly 

 a boreal tree, being at liome along the borders 

 of swamps and streams and by the springs 

 on mountain sides of the far nortli, where the 

 beauty of its flowers and fruit are unsurpassed 

 by those of any other tree of tliose regions. 

 The tree has long been considered identical with 

 a northern Asiatic species, the P. sambucifoliu 

 C. & S. (Elder-leaf Mountain-Ash) and has 

 been so named in the books generally upon 

 American trees. Its distinctness from that 

 species, however, has recently been pointed out 

 and it has been given the name S. scopulina. 

 Though considered bj- some as a variety of 

 .S'. Ame)-icana its specific distinctness would 

 seem to be clearly indicated by its larger and 

 earlier flowers in smaller clusters, its large 

 fruit and broader, more obtuse leaflets and 

 hairy winter buds. It is a particular!}' beauti- 

 ful tree in autumn, when bearing among its 

 blue-green foliage its nodding clusters of bright 

 red fruit. 



The wood is light, a cubic foot weighing 36.94 



lbs., soft and but little used.= 



Leaven u.suall,v 4-6 in. long with reddish-petioles, 

 and 7-10 oblong-oval to ovate-lanceolate, sub- 

 sessile leaflets, rounded or tapering, inequilateral 

 and entire at base, sharply serrate above* mostly 

 obtuse or acute at apex, pubescent at first but at 

 maturity glabrous dark bluish green above, paler 

 and usually more or less pubescent beneath ; leaf- 

 buds hairy. Flower.t in latter part of .Tune, 

 %-% in. across, in pubescent cymes 2-4 in. broad. 

 Fruit subglobose, bright red, from Vi-V^ in. in 

 diameter. 



1. Syn. JPyrus samhucifoUa C. 

 Americana var. decora Sarg. 



2. A. W., IV, 84. 



& S. 



Sorbus 



