Fifty Common Trees of New York 



49 



39. SHAD BUSH 



June Berry, Service Berry 



(Amelanchier canadensis (Linnaeus) Medicus) 



Shad bush is an attractive tree though not commercially valuable be- 

 cause of its small size. In the spring when the shad are ascending the 

 rivers, its small white flowers are commonly noticed along the drier 



SHAD BUSH 

 Twig, leaf, and fruit, one- 

 half natural size 



banks of the streams, along fence rows, and on hillsides in open woods. 

 It is common throughout most parts of the State, particularly in the 

 central and southern highlands. Its wood is heavy, harder than white 

 oak, strong,, close-grained, and dark brown in color often tinged with red. 

 It is occasionally used for tool handles. 



Bark — very smooth, grayish brown in color, with age often marked 

 with dark lengthwise streaks. 



Twigs — slender, somewhat zigzag, olive green to purplish brown in 

 color, smooth, but usually covered by a thin grayish outer layer. 



Winter buds — terminal bud from ^4 to % inch long, slender, sharp- 

 pointed, greenish or purplish brown in color; lateral buds somewhat 

 smaller than terminal bud or undeveloped. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, egg-shaped, from 2 to 4 inches long, sharp- 

 pointed, finely serrate on margin. 



Fruit — a berry, sweet, reddish purple in color, about % inch in diame- 

 ter, contains many seeds; borne in cluster; ripening in June or July; a 

 favorite food of birds. 



