Part 19 (1/2)

Usually th.o.r.n.y trees with alternate, once to twice abruptly pinnate leaves. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish, in small spikes. Summer. Fruit a small or large pea-like pod, with one to many seeds; ripe in autumn, but often hanging on the trees through the winter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. triacanthos.]

1. =Gleditschia triacanthos=, L. (HONEY-LOCUST.) Leaflets lanceolate-oblong, somewhat serrate. Pods linear, 1 to 1 ft. long, often twisted, filled with sweet pulp between the seeds. A large, handsome, clean tree, with usually many stout, much-branched thorns, especially abundant on bruised portions of the trunk and large branches; thorns compressed at base. Wild from Pennsylvania southward and westward, and extensively cultivated throughout.

A variety without thorns is frequently met with (var. _inermis_), also one with drooping foliage (var. _Bujotii pendula_).

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. aquatica.]

2. =Gleditschia aquatica=, Marsh. (WATER-LOCUST.) Leaflets ovate or oblong. Pods oval, 1 to 4 in. long, 1- to few-seeded, without pulp. A small tree with few slender, usually simple thorns; in swamps in southern Illinois and south. Occasionally planted for ornament. This species is quite similar to the preceding one, but the leaves are somewhat smaller, the thorns, though occasionally branching, do not branch so extensively, and the pod is very short and rounded.

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. sinensis.]

3. =Gleditschia sinensis=, Lam. (CHINESE HONEY-LOCUST.) A tree with stouter and more conical thorns, broader and more oval leaflets. A medium-sized or small tree, often cultivated. This species, like the others, has a thornless variety.

GENUS =35. ALBiZZIA.=

Trees or shrubs with abruptly pinnate leaves. Fruit a broad-linear straight pod.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. julibrissin.]

=Albizzia julibrissin=, Boivin. (SILK-TREE.) Leaves twice abruptly pinnate, of many (over 400) leaflets; leaflets semi-oblong, curved, entire, acute, with the midrib near the upper edge. Flowers in globose heads forming panicles. Fruit plain pods on short stems. A very beautiful small tree, introduced from j.a.pan; probably not hardy north of Was.h.i.+ngton. The figure shows only one of the lowest and shortest side divisions (pinnae) of the leaf. The pinnae increase in length and number of leaflets to the end of the leaf.

ORDER =XVIII. ROSACEae.= (ROSE FAMILY.)

A large and very useful order of trees, shrubs, and herbs of temperate regions.

GENUS =36. PRuNUS.=

Trees or shrubs with simple, alternate, deciduous, usually serrate, stipulate leaves, without lobes. The stems produce gum when injured.

Foliage and nuts have flavor of peach-leaves. Flowers conspicuous, usually white, or light pink, often in cl.u.s.ters, peach-blossom-shaped; in early spring. Fruit in size from pea to peach, a rounded drupe with one stony-coated seed.

* Drupe large, soft velvety on the surface; stone rough (Peach, Apricot) 1.

* Drupe medium, covered with a bloom; stone smooth, flattened (Plums). (=A.=)

=A.= Usually th.o.r.n.y; wild, rarely cultivated. (=B.=)

=B.= Leaves ac.u.minate 2, 3.

=B.= Leaves not ac.u.minate 4, 5.

=A.= Not th.o.r.n.y; cultivated 6.

* Drupe medium to small, smooth, without bloom (Cherries).

(=C.=)

=C.= Drupes cl.u.s.tered in umbels, -1 in. in diameter. (=D.=)