16 The Shrubs of North Carolina 



cluster of white bell-shaped flowers. It is 4 to § feet high, its stiff 

 leaves (12 or 18 inches long) tipped with a very sharp thorny 

 point, and their edges very rough. 



2. (Y. gloriosa, Linn.) — Found also on the sandy coast, similar 

 to the preceding, but smaller, and the leaves smooth on the 

 edges. 



3. Bear Grass. (Y. filamentosa, Linn.) — Common in sandy 

 fields nearly throughout the State, well known by the thread-like 

 filaments on the edges of the leaves, and admired for the beauty 

 of its flowers, borne in clusters upon a naked stem 4 to 6 feet 

 high. 



The two next genera would be most generally ranked among 

 Stone-fruit, though the shell of the second is very thin, and 

 covered by a very thin flesh. 



Fringe Tree. (Chionanthus Virginica, Linn.) — Sometimes 

 called Old Man's Beard. We have no shrub of softer and more 

 delicate beauty than this, when draped in its clusters of snow- 

 white, fringe-like flowers. It is found northward to southern 

 Pennsylvania. In this State it grows in all the Districts, but 

 most abundantly in the Middle. It is sometimes 15 to 20 feet 

 high, but flowers at the height of 2 or 3 feet. Its fruit has the 

 appearance and odor of a green plum, but I have never seen it 

 produce fruit in the Lower District. An infusion of the roots is 

 a favorite remedy in long standing intermittents and other 

 chronic diseases. 



Oil-nut. Buffalo Tree. (Pyrularia oleifera, Gray.) — A 

 bush 3 to 6 feet high, abundant through our mountain range, and 

 reaching north to the mountains of Pennsylvania. The leaves 

 are 3 to 4 inches long, becoming smooth, rather acrid to the 

 taste, and oily. The fruit is an inch or more long, pear-shaped 

 or roundish, with a thin shell and large oily kernel. The root has 

 an unpleasant odor. 



The remaining Shrubs, including those with Nuts, are Dry- 

 fruited and very various. The first Group will include such as 

 have dry seed-covers, containing small seeds and opening by 

 partitions. The first three genera have tubular small flowers 

 like those of the Huckleberry and Sorrel Tree. 



1. Fetter-Bush. (Andromeda nitida, Bartr.) — Found only 

 in the Lower District in low Pine barrens. It is 2 to 5 feet high, 

 with the branches three-angled, smooth throughout; the leaves 

 evergreen and shining and rather thick, 1 to 2 inches long, not 

 toothed ; the flowers clustered in the forks of the leaves, white or 

 reddish, with a sort of honey odor, opening in March and April. 



