COMMON FRINGE TREE. 
57 
Duhamel, Arb. l,p. 165. Du Roi, Harbk, 1, p. 150. Lam. Diet. 1, 
p. 735. 
chionanthus (latifolia), foliis ovato-ellipticis . Ait. Kew. 1 , p. 22. 
C \ maritima . Pursh. 1, p. 8. 
Amelanchier virginiana, laurocerasi folio . Petiv. Sici. p. 241. Cates- 
by, Carol, vol. 1, p. 68, tab. 68. 
Chionanthus (angustifolia) foliis lanceolatis , (narrow-leaved Fringe 
Tree.) Ait. Kew. 1 , p. 22. 
This beautiful tree attains the height of 12 to 20 feet, 
with a diameter of 10 to 12 inches. When in flower, 
which is here about the commencement of June, few 
objects can be seen more singular and elegant; the pani- 
cles of pendent flowers with which it is then clad give it 
the appearance of a mass of snow white fringe, and, when 
the flowers fall, the ground seems covered with a carpet of 
white shreds. It is also highly ornamental when in fruit, 
presenting, amongst its broad, deep green leaves, numerous 
clusters of dark purple drupes, which look like so many 
small plums, but are not agreeable to the palate. Mr. Elliott 
mentions a variety in a garden near Charleston, (that of 
Mr. Champney) in which the panicles of flowers were so 
long and numerous that they appeared cylindrical. The 
variety A C. angustifolia of Aiton, with narrow oblong- 
lanceolate leaves, and smooth beneath, appears to be a 
distinct species, and takes a more southern range. 
The farthest known northern station of this tree is in 
the woodlands, on the borders of the Brandywine, near 
West Chester in this state, where it was observed, many 
years ago, by my late friend David Landreth, senior ; it is 
therefore perfectly hardy to the northern limits of the 
United States. To the south, it is met with as far as 
Florida, and appears to be replaced in Mexico by the C. 
pubescens of Humboldt, Kunth and Bonpland, but in that 
species the flowers are larger and red. 
Of the quality of its wood nothing is yet known, nor is 
