118 



TREES OF THE NORTHERN UNITED STATES 



2. Clfcthra alnifolia, L. (COMMON SWEET PEPPER-BUSH.) Leaves 

 wedge-obovate, sharply serrate near the apex, entire near the base, 

 straight-veined, smooth, green on both sides. Racemes 

 erect, often compound, with bracts shorter than the 

 flowers and with smooth filaments. This is a shrnb 

 rather than a tree ; abundant in wet places east of the 

 Alleghanies. Occasionally cultivated for its sweet- 

 scented flowers. 



ORDER XXVI. SAPOTACE-ffi. 



(SAPODILLA FAMILY.) 



A small order, mainly of tropical plants, here including 

 one genus found only in the southern part of our range. 



GENUS 54. BTJMLIA. 



Leaves simple, alternate, entire, sub-evergreen, exstipu- 

 late ; branches often spiny. Flowers small, whitish, usu- 

 ally crowded in fascicles. Fruit a black cherry-like drupe 

 with a 2- to 3-celled nut. Shrubs and trees of the South- 

 ern States. Two species (although hardly trees) are 

 found far enough north to be included in this work. 



* Leaves rusty-woolly beneath 1. 



* Leaves smooth or slightly silky be- 



neath 2. 



1. Bumfclia lanuginosa, Pers. (WOOLLY- 

 LEAVED BUCKTHORN. ) Leaves obloug-obo- 

 vate, obtuse, entire, smooth above and 

 rusty- woolly beneath, but not silky; spiny, 

 with downy branchlets. Clusters 6- to 12- 

 flowered, pubescent ; flowers greenish-yel- 

 low. Fruit globular and quite large (\^ 

 in. ), black, edible. A small tree, 10 to 40 ft. 

 high, of the woods of southern Illinois and 

 southward. With slight protection it can 

 be cultivated in Massachusetts. 



B. lanugindsa. 



