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BLACK HAW. 

 Viburnum prunifolium, Linnaeus. 



FORM — A shrub or small tree usually attaining a heiglit of 15 ft., but may reach a height 

 of 85 ft. with a diameter of 10-12 inches. Trunk short, often crool^ed, bearing a rather bioad 

 and round-topped crown formed by stiff lateral branches. 



BARK — About 2/5 of an inch thick, reddish-brown, rough, broken into thick plate-like scales. 



TWIGS — At first reddish and smooth, then green, and later, during first winter, spine-like, 

 gray tinged with red, and often covered with thin film-like bloom. Usually marked with 

 orange-colorod lenticels. 



BUDS — Opposite, i-h of an inch long, covered with 2 rusty pubescent scales which enlarge 

 into leaf-like bodies in spring when growth begins. Axillary buds i of an inch long, flattened, 

 closely appressed to twig. Flower buds swollen near base. 



LEAVES — Opposite, simple, oval, 1-3 inches long, obtuse or slightly pointed at apex, usually 

 wedge-shaped at base, finely serrate on margin, sometimes leathery when old, dark green above 

 and pale green below; petioles usually round, rarely winged. 



LEAF-SCARS— See "Leaf -scars" under Sweet Viburnum, 



FLOWERS — Small, perfect, white, appearing about May in dense, many-flowered, sessile, and 

 terminal cymes which are 3-4 inches broad. 



■ FRUIT — Fleshy, dark Wue drupe which is persistent, sweet and rather juicy; contains a flat 

 oval stone; grouped in few-fruited clusters borne on reddish stalks. 



WOOD — See "Wood" under Sweet Viburnum. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Black Haw, also known as Sweet Haw, Sheep- 

 berry, Stag-bush, and Nanny-berry, closely resembles the Sweet Viburnum. See "Distinguishing 

 Characteristics" under Sweet Viburnum. The Black Haw and the Sweet Viburnum may further 

 be distinguished from the Maple-leaved Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) by the palmate vena- 

 tion of the leaf-blade and the small gaping buds of the latter, and from the Arrowwood 

 (Viburnum dentatum) by the coarsely dentate leaves, the small gaping buds, and the evidently- 

 stalked flower clusters of the latter. 



RANGE — Connecticut, south to Georgia, and west to Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA- Common in the eastern and southern parts of the 

 State, and local to sparse in the other parts. 



HABITAT — Prefers dry rocky hillsides. Sometimes found in rather moist locations. Fre- 

 quent along fences and roadsides where seeds may have been dropped by birds. Often forms 

 almost impenetrable thickets along fences, especially when coppiced. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — It is of no commercial importance as a wood-producing 

 tree, but for ornamental purposes deserves to be planted extensively. The bark of the roots 

 is valuable medicinally. 



