THE WAYFARING-TREE 95 



leaf-stalks, Teins, midribs, and tte whole outer surface 

 of the leaves, subsequently to be their under-surfaces, 

 are thickly netted with stellate hairs, mostly ten- 

 rayed, when seen under the microscope, and so inter- 

 crossed as to form a sort of grey felt. Those species 

 of Viburnum which, like V. Lantana, have unlobed 

 leaves, are generally stated to be destitute of stipules : 

 such structures have, however, been detected in the 

 Wayfaring-tree at the base of the innermost leaves of 

 the bud. 



When in April, or early May, the opposite" pairs 

 of ovate leaves unfold, the hairs, which lie flat on 

 their upper surfaces, give the whole bush the appear- 

 ance of actually revelling in the dust, which often 

 blows over it in clouds as it grows in the roadside 

 hedge. The leaves reach a length of three to six 

 inches : they are thick, opaque, and of a dull, somewhat 

 yeUow shade of green, have a heart-shaped base, a 

 bluntly-pointed apex, and. a finely-toothed margin, 

 and present an upper surface ridged along the prin- 

 cipal lateral veins and copiously wrinkled between 

 them, the whole system of tracery standing out 

 prominently on the under-surface of the leaf. 



A little later the flat-topped cymes of small white 

 flowers make their appearance at the ends of the 

 branches. Smaller, and not of so dead a white as 

 those of the Elder, and lacking the delicate pink 

 tinge of the Laurustinus and the large attractive 

 outer florets oi its other congener, the Guelder-rose, 

 the blossoms are remarkably articulated at their base, 

 though this does not seem appreciably to affect their 

 attachment to their rigid pedicels nor, until they are 



