AMELAN'CHIER VULGA RIS. 
COMMON AMELANCHIER. 
Class. Order. 
ICOSANDRIA. DI-PENTAC YNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ROSACE IE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
S. Europe. 
6 feel. 
Apr.& May. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 862. 
Amelanchier is a word to which we cannot 
attach any specific meaning. It is said to be the 
Savoy name of the Medlar ; whilst, according to 
some authors, it has been applied by the Austrians 
to a species of Whortleberry. The shrub which 
now bears the name has received several other 
names from different authors ; having been by 
some thought to be identical with Pyrus, whilst 
others consider it a Sorbus, others a Mespilus, &c. 
The distinctive characters of Amelanchier rest on 
a slender basis, but it is desirable that no further 
change be made. 
This is a very ornamental shrub, or small tree, 
whether in fruit or in flower, and it usually pro- 
duces an abundance of both. The leaves are at 
first covered with a cottony pubescence, but this 
gradually disappears as the foliage attains its full 
growth. Many of the species of Hawthorn, (Cra- 
fcegus) even the common, of our hedges, are 
highly pleasing objects when in flower, but they 
form round and solid masses, whilst the Amelan- 
chier, with its profusion of flowers, has more of the 
picturesque — is more spreading, tortuous, and 
