234 KEY AND FLORA 



2. V. Opulus L., var. americanum. Cranberry Tree, High- 

 Bush Cranberry. A handsome, upright shrub. Leaves S-S-ribbed 

 and 3-lobed. Fruit bright red, juicy, very acid, and used as a sub- 

 stitute for cranberries. Common N. The form known as " snow- 

 ball," with all the flowers showy and sterile, is cultivated from Europe. 



B 



Flowers all small and iisexual. 



3. V. acerifolium L. Maple-Leaved Arrowwood. A slender 

 shrub, 3-6 ft. high. Leaves broadly ovate to heart-shaped, palmately 

 veined and 3-lobed, serrate or nearly entire, petioled, downy, becom- 

 ing smooth above. Cymes peduncled, about 7-rayed, 2-3 in. wide ; 

 sterile flowers none. Fruit oval, black ; stone flat, 2-ridged on the 

 edges. In dry, open woods.* 



4. V. dentatum L. Arrowwood. A shrub 8-15 ft. high. Leaves 

 broadly ovate to oval, acute at the apex, rounded or heart-shaped 

 at the base, coarsely dentate, smooth above, hairy in the axils of the 

 veins beneath, short-petioled. Cymes long-peduncled, 7-rayed, 2-3 

 in. wide; sterile flowers none. Calyx smooth. Fruit globose, dark 

 blue ; stone compressed, grooved on one side. In rich, damp soil.* 



5. V. nudum L. Withe-Rod. A shrub 8-12 ft. high. Leaves 

 ovate to lanceolate, entire or slightly toothed, acute at both ends, 

 thick, smooth above, the veins prominent beneath; petiole short. 

 Cymes short-pedunoled, 5-rayed; sterile flowers none. Fruit ovoid, 

 blue. Common in swamps.* 



6. V. Lentago L. Nannybbrry, Sheepberry. A shrub or small 

 tree, sometimes 30 ft. high. Leaves ovate, sharply serrate, taper- 

 pointed, usually smooth on both sides. Flower clusters large com- 

 pound cymes. Fruit oval, ^ in. or more long, bluish-black, with a 

 bloom, eatable. In woods and on banks of streams. 



7. V. prunifolium L. Black Haw. A small tree, 1.5-20 ft. high. 

 Leaves oval to ovate, acute or obtuse at each end, finely and sharply 

 serrate, smooth and shining above, often slightly downy beneath ; 

 petioles dilated and rusty-downy. Cymes sessile, large, 4-5-rayed; 

 sterile flowers none. Fruit oval, bluish-black, eatable. In rich, moist 

 woods.* 



VII. SAMBUCUS L. 



Shrubs with, odd-pinnate leaves. Calyx limb minute or want- 

 ing. Flowers very many, small, white, in compound cymes. 

 Corolla with a small, somewhat urn-shaped tube, and a flattish, 

 spreading, 5-cleft limb. Stamens 5. Stigmas 3, sessile. Fruit 

 a globular, pulpy drupe, 3-seeded, appearing like a berry. 



