Handbook op Teees of the KoRTHEiiN States and CxVnada. 415 



Tlie Rusty Naiinyberry is the largest Ameri- 

 can representative of the genus, attaining the 

 lieight of 40 ft., witli a trunl< sometimes 12 

 or 18 in. in diameter, but it is generally a 

 smaller tree and is sometimes shrubby, sending 

 up from the ground several stems. The bark 

 of trunk, like that of the other arborescent 

 Viburnums, is fissured into more or less pro- 

 nounced squares, by a transverse checking of 

 its prominent longtitvidinal ridges. 



When i.solated it develops a rather wide ir- 

 regular open top, and, with its ample shining 

 leaves and large flower clusters, it Is a tree of 

 unusual beauty in spring-time ; and hardly less 

 so later in autumn, when bearing its conspicu- 

 ous fruit. It is well worthy of being planted 

 for ornamental purposes, in parks and private 

 grounds, and has been found to be hardy as far 

 north as Massachusetts. 



The wood is fine-grained, heavy and hard, 



but, as is the case with the northern Xanny- 



berry, the heart-wood possesses such a strong, 



disagreeable odor as to render it undesirable 



for most uses, even if it were procurable in 



quantities. The disagreeable odor of the wood 



is communicated to the smoke when burning.. 



Leaves oval to elliptical and obovate. rounded 

 or obtuse at base and mostly obtuse or occasionally 

 acute at apex, finely and sharply serrate, at ma- 

 turity coriaceous lustrous dark green above, paler 

 and with rufous hairs on midrib and prominent 

 veins beneath and the wide grooved and margined 

 petioles. Flowct'a 14 in. in diameter, in com- 

 pound rusty-pubescent cymes sometimes o or 6 in. 

 across. Fruit, ripe in October, oblong, blue with 

 glaucous bloom, about ^/^ in. long, in few-fruited 

 clusters with drooping red stems ; stone flat, 

 nearly orbicular. 



1. Syn. Vitntrnum rcfotnmentQstim Small. 



