SHRUBS 483 



grows from 3 to 8 feet high, and bears large, rose-colored blos- 

 soms, on bristly stalks, with papilionaceous corolla. 



The Common Locust {R. pseudaccicid) is a tall tree, found in 

 every part of Long Island, growing wild and cultivated. Its 

 white blossoms emit a delicate perfume. In early June, when 

 this tree is in blossom, the locust-trees make our woods softly 

 and fragrantly beautiful. The lightly waving, fine leaflets of 

 the thick foliage, with the drooping racemes of white flowers, 

 make an exquisite forest picture. 



It is a common opinion among farmers that lightning will 

 strike a locust-tree quicker than any other, and that, therefore, 

 one planted near a house may serve as a lightning-conductor. 

 The numerous charred trunks of locust-trees observed in a walk 

 in the forest would seem to bear out this idea. 



A curious provision for the protection of tender buds is fur- 

 nished by trees and shrubs of this genus. The base of the pres- 

 ent leaf-stalk is hollow, like a thimble, and it fits over the bud. 

 One has only to pluck a locust-leaf to discover next season's bud 

 forming under it and growing in as perfect a nest as could be 

 devised. 



32. Beach Plum 



Prunus mariiima. — Family, Rose. Color, white. Leaves, 

 alternate, with stipules, oval, small, peiioled, with finely cut 

 edges, softly downy beneath. Time, May. 



Qjlyx of 5 sepals, united below. Petals, 5. Stamens, many. 

 Pistil, I. Fruit, a stone enclosed in fleshy pulp, a drupe. 

 Just before being ripe it is crimson, and when fully ripe is a 

 dark purple, covered with a whitish powdery bloom, as large as 

 a good-sized marble. Edible. 



A compact, low, spreading bush, from 2 to 6 feet high, found in 

 large numbers on sea-beaches from Maine to Virginia. When 

 found farther in-land the fruit is smaller. Bark, dark purple with 

 light dots. 



33. "Wild Yellow or Red Plum 



P. Americdna is a tall shrub or tree, 20 feet high, with 



