12 



MISC. PUBLICATION 



TJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



BLACKHAW 



Viburnum prunifolium L. (Fig. 17.) 



Other common names. — Sloe, sloe-leaved viburnum, stagbush, shonny. 



Habitat' and range. — The blackhaw occurs in dry woods and thickets and on 

 rocky hillsides from Connecticut to Florida and west to Michigan and Texas, 

 but is found in greatest abundance in the South. 



Description. — This shrub or small tree, from 10 to about 20 feet in height, 

 has rather stout, spreading branches. The smooth bright-green, finely toothed, 

 broadly or roundish oval leaves are 1 to 3 inches long. The numerous stemless 

 flower clusters are from 2 to 4 inches broad, composed of numerous white flowers 

 appearing from April to June. The fruit, which is sweet and edible, is about 

 half an inch long, bluish black, covered with a bloom, and ripens in early autumn. 

 It contains a somewhat flattened stone. 



Another species. — The sweet viburnum {Viburnum lentago L.,), known also 

 as nannyberry and sheepberry, is collected with V. prunifolium. It grows in 

 rich soil from Canada south to Georgia and Kansas. Its fruit matures in October, 

 becoming sweet and edible, and sometimes remaining on the shrub until the 

 following spring. 



Part used. — The bark of both species, collected in autumn. In reasonably 

 constant demand. 



Figure 17.— Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) 



Figure 18.— Black mustard (Brassica nigra) 



BLACK MUSTARD 



Brassica nigra (L.) Koch. (Fig. 18.) 



Synonym. — Sinapis nigra L. 



Other common names. — Red mustard, brown mustard, cadlock, kerlock, 

 senvre, scurvy. 



Habitat and range. — Black mustard was introduced from Europe and is a 

 common weed in cultivated ground and waste places almost throughout the 

 United States, being especially troublesome in grainfields and pastures. It is 

 cultivated in California. 



Description. — Black mustard grows from 2 to 6 feet high. The leaves and 

 lower portion of the stems are covered with bristly hairs. The small, bright- 

 yellow flowers are produced from June to September in racemes at the ends of 

 the stems, followed by erect pods crowded against them in dense clusters. These 

 pods when ripe contam numerous small and roundish, blackish or reddish brown 



SGGds 



Part used. — The seed, which is collected in the same way as white-mustard 

 seed In limited demand only. 



