With. to Ed. 7. Sorbus torminalis. Ger. Matth. Cam. E.) Woods and hedges. Bath Hills, near Bungay. Mr. Woodward. Pendeford, Staffordshire, in hedges. Mr. Pitt. (On the rocks at Knot's-hole, near Liverpool, in a situation quite exposed to the salt water, and where it must occasionally be washed by the spray of the sea. Dr. Bostock. On the side of the foot-path to Alcester Park. Purton. On Trefarthen demesne, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. Hare Down, near Bodmin. Rev. J. Pike Jones. E.) T. May."

(P. DOMESTICA.

Leaves winged: leafits uniform, downy beneath, serrated towards the point: flowers panicled: fruit obovate. Sm. E.)

Jacq. Austr. 447—(E. Bot. 350. E.)-Crantz. ii. 2. 3—Nash. i. at p. 10. f. 1. 3-Matth. 261-Clus. i. 10. 3-Dod. 803. 1-Lob. Obs. 544. 1-Ger. Em. 1471. 1-Park. 1420. 1-Blackw. 174-Fuchs. 576-Trag. 1012J. B. i. a. 59-Lonic. i. 50. 1-(Gært. 2. 87. E.)

(A middle sized tree of slow growth and hard wood. Leaves unequally winged. Leafits seven to nine pair, with an odd one, sessile, oblong, equal, serrated from the middle to the point, about an inch long. Panicles terminal, downy, repeatedly forked. Flowers half an inch over, cream-coloured. Calyx woolly. Styles always five. Fruit obovate, an inch long, reddish. Seeds two in each cell, according to Gartner, though one only attains perfection. Sm. E.)

TRUE SERVICE-TREE, OF SORB. (P. domestica. Sm. E.) P.Sorbus. Gært. Sorbus domestica. Linn. Huds. With. to Ed. 7. Willd. E.) Mountainous forests. Mountainous parts of Cornwall, and the Moorlands of Staffordshire. Ray. In the middle of a thick wood in the Forest of Wire, near Bewdley, one mile from Mopson's Cross, between that and Dowles Brook, (undoubtedly wild. E.) T. April-May.t

(P. AUCUPA'RIA. Leaves winged: smooth: leafits uniform, serrated: flowers corymbose: styles about three: fruit globular. E.) Mill. Ill.-Hunt. Evel. 218. i. p. 211. Ed. 2d.-Fl. Dan. 1034—(E. Bot. 337. E.)-Blackw. 173—Matth. 262-Dod. 834--Ger. Em. 1473-Lob. Obs. 544. 2-J. B. i. a. 62— Ger. 1290-Park. 1419. 2-Trag. 1009— Crantz. ii. 1. 4.

(A highly ornamental tree, though of rather formal contour, of slow growth, and rarely attaining great size. Bark smooth. E.) Leafits seven or eight pair, sessile, spear-shaped, serrated, the intermediate ones the longest. Corymb terminal. Berry round, of a pleasant red or scarlet.

(The fruit, when a little frosted, becomes agreeably acid and wholesome, and sometimes appears in the London market: nevertheless, (with all due respect for so high an authority as Evelyn), we cannot altogether concur in his interpretation of the specific name,“ so called for its effects against gripings in the bowels." E.)

†The fruit is mealy and austere, not much unlike the Medlar. Chermes Sorbi and Coccinella bipustulata live upon this and P. aucuparia. Linn. The wood is valuable for making mathematical rulers and excisemen's gauging sticks. Nash. (If not a primary argument, the inference is legitimate, and favourable to the study of nature, that amidst the general corruption of morals attendant on wealth and luxury among the Romans, none but their prince of naturalists, (except perhaps the unamiable satyrist), possessed a mind sufficiently unsophisticated to expose the various artifices then practised. Of the prevalence of fraud and cheating, Pliny unreservedly admits innumerable instances, and among them states, (lib. xxiii. c. 7), that for the adulteration of Cinnabar, (an article of considerable importance to the limner), was employed " Sorbis tritis," the triturated fruit of the Service

tree.

Seeds three, four, five, reddish. Relh. Flowers whitish, (numerous, of an agreeable scent. Berries in beautiful bunches, highly ornamental through the latter part of the summer and autumn. Leaves when young slightly pubescent beneath. E.)

MOUNTAIN ASH. QUICKEN-TREE.

ROAN-TREE, in Scotland. Irish: Keora Cahran. Welsh: Pren criafal. Gaelic: Craobh chaorain. P. aucuparia. Gært. Sm. Hook. Grev. Sorbus aucuparia. Linn. Huds. With. to Ed. 7. Willd. E.) Woods and hedges in mountainous and boggy situations in Wales, Scotland, and the north of England.

("How clung the Rowan to the rock,

And through the foliage shewed his head,

With narrow leaves and berries red." Marmion. E.)

T. April.

This tree grows either in woods or open fields, but best on the sides of bills and in fertile soil. It will not bear lopping. Plants grow well in its shade. The wood is soft, tough, and solid, (excellent for hoops, and for bows next to Yew; also considered lasting for posts. E.) It is converted into tables, spokes for wheels, shafts, chairs, &c. (The tall straight rods are well adapted and used for making hurdles. Bree, in Purt. The roots are formed into handles for knives and wooden spoons. The berries dried and reduced to powder, make wholesome bread; and an ardent spirit may be distilled from them, which has a fine flavour, but it is small in quantity. The berries too, infused in water, make an acid liquor, (called Diod Grifol, E.), somewhet like perry, which is drank by the poorer people in Wales. (In Jura the juice is used as an acid for punch. E.) In Germany the fowlers use the berries to entice Redwings and Fieldfares into nooses of hair suspended in the woods; whence its trivial name; (to which attraction alludes the Mantuan's lay:

Twelve pounds of berries yield two quarts of spirit; the pulp, after distillation, affords excellent nourishment for cattle. The bark when collected in autumn, (according to experiments made in Germany), is better adapted to the tanning of leather than even that of Oak. This tree appears to have been highly esteemed by the Druids, and is still found more frequently than any other in the neighbourhood of Druidical circles in the Scotch Highlands. Even in these more enlightened times, natives of the North may be found, who profess to believe in the efficacy of a small branch carried about them as a charm against witchcraft and enchantment. In one part of Scotland, at Strathspey, the sheep and lambs are on May Day made to pass through a hoop of Roan wood; (and the Scotch dairy-maid will drive her cattle to the shealings, or summer pastures, with no other rod than that of the Roan-tree. Evelyn assures us that "ale and beer brewed with these berries, being ripe, is an incomparable drink, familiar in Wales, where this tree is reputed so sacred, that there is not a church-yard without one of them planted in it, (as among us the Yew), so, on a certain day in the year, every body religiously wears a cross made of the wood: and the tree is by some authors called Fraxinus Cambro-Britannica, reputed to be a preservative against fascinations and evil spirits; whence perhaps we call it Witchen, the boughs being stuck about the house, or the wood used for walking-staves." These vestiges of ancient superstitions, here either altogether exploded, or reduced to unmeaning customs, remind us of the amulets we have observed still so frequently suspended round the necks of cattle, or worn, with implicit faith, by the ignorant peasantry, in the South of Europe. Allusion is made to such property, as Dr. Hunter remarks, in a very ancient song, called the Laidley Worm of Spindleston Heughs:

"Their spells were vain: The hags returned

To the queen in sorrowful mood,

Crying, that witches have no power,

Where there is Rown-tree wood."

And this leads, as some commentators imagine, to the true reading of a passage in Shakspeare's Macbeth, substituting (Act 1. s. 3.) "A rown-tree, witch!" for the usual reading "Aroint thee, witch!"-but this we deny; the latter being a genuine adverb of expulsion or avoidance, used by the bard with a like meaning in other passages, (as Edgar in Lear, &c.) though since become obsolete. "In September and October few trees add

(P. HY BRIDA.

Leaves deeply pinnatifid, or half pinnate, downy beneath: flowers corymbose: styles about three. E.)

Fl. Dan. 301—(Ē. Bot. 2331. E.)—Linn. Fil. Fasc. i. 6.

(A moderate sized tree, with smooth grey branches, hoary when young. Leaves alternate, crowded about the extremities, stalked, oblong, acute, serrated, lobed towards the base, often deeply pinnatifid; smooth above, white (or rather greyish, E.) and finely cottony beneath. Stipulas smooth, awl-shaped, attached to the foot-stalks, but deciduous. Flowers cymose, cream-coloured. Styles three or four; cells of the fruit soft and pliant like those of P. aucuparia, agreeing with them in number. It is regularly propagated by seed. Sm. E.)

Linnæus considered it as a mule plant, produced between P. Aria and P. aucuparia, having the flowers and pistils of the latter, with the foliage of the former, the leaves being rather winged at the base, but confluent upwards.

(It would appear that P. hybrida seems to vary from P. Aria, and to obtain the wing-cleft or pinnatifid character by growth in gardens and shrubberies; vid. Note, p. 171. Bot. Guide. E.)

(BASTARD MOUNTAIN ASH. P. hybrida. Fl. Brit. not of Willd. P. pinnatifida. Ehrh. Sm. Sorbus hybrida. Linn. With. to Ed. 7. On mountains. In rocky places on Cairn na Callich, and other mountains at the north end of the İsle of Arran. Mr. J. Mackay. Fl. Brit. E.) T. May.* (P. A'RIA. Leaves simple, elliptical, cut, serrated, scored; white and downy beneath: flowers corymbose: styles about two. E.)

Fl. Dan. 302-(E. Bot. 1858. E.)-Crantz. ii. 2. 2— Mill. Ill.—Hunt. Evel. 181. i. p. 175. Ed. 2d.-J. B. i. a. 65-Lob. Adv. 435. 1—Ger. Em. 1327. 2-Park. 1421-Ger. 1146. 2.

(A small tree, conspicuous for the white mealiness or close tomentose appearance of the under surface of the leaves, likewise investing the flowerstalks and calyx. Parallel ribs prominent on both sides of the leaves. Flowers white, in large bunches. Styles often three or four. Fruit with as many cells, globular, scarlet, dotted, mealy, acid, astringent. Seeds two in each cell. E.)

(Var. 2. P. aria B. Eng. Fl. P. intermedia. Ehrh. Willd. Crataegus Aria B. Linn. Sorbus hybrida. Huds. With. to Ed. 7. Leaves with five to seven marginal lobes on each side, slightly pinnatifid, but not so

more to the gaiety of picturesque scenery, when the glowing vermillion fruit decorates the boughs so superbly by its pendent pomes; for botanical language will scarcely allow us to say berries, because the seeds are disposed like those of the apple in a fleshy pulp, and divided into cells." Phillips. A variety with yellow-striped leaves is sometimes admitted into shrubberies. Ecidium cornutum, Grev. Scot. Crypt. 180: "Peridia very long, curved, pale-brown, bursting from an orange-coloured thickened spot; sporidia sub-globose ;' on the inferior surface of the leaves in summer and autumn very frequent and on both sides of the leaves may be occasionally observed Erineum Sorbi, Grev. Scot. Crypt. 23. "Distinct, or somewhat effused, superficial, lax, at first reddish, at length brown ferruginous; peridia cylindrical, obtuse, and somewhat incurved at the summits." The new vegetable acid, named Sorbic Acid, is found most abundantly to pervade the Mountain Ash. It differs materially from the Malic acid, but its peculiar properties are not yet thoroughly ascertained. New Month. Mag. 1819. The rare insect Apion (Attelabus) Sorbi is said to haunt this tree. E.)

(It is not considered unworthy of introduction into modern pleasure grounds. E.)

VOL. III.

towards the base. Smith observes, "there can scarcely be found a tree of the Aria on which some leaves do not answer to this variety." Such undoubtedly is the plant of Castell dinas y Brân, near Llangollen, so long observed by Mr. Griffith, and mistaken by Hudson for the Linnæan Sorbus hybrida, whence the confusion which has till recently prevailed. Penmaen Mawr produces a plant nearly similar, described by Mr. Griffith as "an upright stiff tree, with cuneate leaves, entire at the base, and only serrated at the apex." This is the Afaleur Pren, or Lemon-tree, well known in Carnarvonshire, and noticed by modern tourists, but why so preposterously designated is not obvious. E.) WHITE-BEAM TREE. WHITE WILD PEAR TREE. (WHITE-LEAF TREE. P. Aria. Willd. Sm. Hook. Grev. Winch. Cratagus Aria. Linn. Huds. With. to Ed. 7. Sorbus Aria. Crantz. E.) Woods and hedges, especially in mountainous situations and calcareous soil. Mountainous parts of Derbyshire, from the fissures of precipices, without any appearance of soil. Mr. Woodward. Wick Cliffs, and on rocks in Leigh Wood, opposite the Hot-wells, Bristol. Mr. Swayne. In Eden Dean. Mr. Robson. (Grass Wood, and Dib near Coniston. Whitaker's Craven. Woods in Purbeck; Cranbourne Chase, about West Lodge, and Hanley. Pulteney. Box Hill, Surry. Mr. Winch. Turnpike road side from Painswick to Gloucester, fronting the Roman encampment. Mr. O. Roberts. King's Park. Mr. Maughan. Grev. Edin. On St. Vincent's Rocks, just below the sea-walls, indicating a spot near to which grows Arabis stricta. E.) T. May.

SPIRE'A. Cal. five-cleft: Petals five: (Pericarps three to twelve, one-celled, two-valved: Seeds one to three in each cell. Hook. E.)

S. SALICIFOLIA. Leaves egg-spear-shaped, blunt, serrated, smooth: flowers in a compound raceme.

Fl. Ross. 21—(E. Bot. 1468. E.)-Gmel. Sib. iii. 39-Kniph. 3—Clus. i. 84. (Grows in straight rods, branches inclining to yellow. Leaves alternate, nearly sessile, broad-spear-shaped. Fl. Brit. E.) A shrub about four feet high. Serratures of the leaves not very regular. Flowers rose red, paler when expanded, (forming a dense sort of spike. E.) (It increases rapidly by suckers, but seldom or ever perfects its seeds in this island, whence it has been inferred not to be properly a native; but, when we consider that it flourishes in the frigid clime of Siberia, and

It loves dry hills and open exposures, and flourishes either in gravel or clay. It bears Topping, and permits grass to grow under it. The wood, being hard, tough, and smooth, is used for axle-trees, wheels, walking-sticks, carpenters' and other tools. The fruit is catable when mellowed by autumnal frosts, and an ardent spirit may be distilled from it. It seldom bears a good crop of fruit two years together. Sheep and goats eat it. On Breidden Hill it is very difficult of access. Mr. Aikin observes that the goats derour every plant within their reach.-The wood affords an excellent charcoal for the makers of gunpowder. Mr. Gough. (The White-beam is by some considered ornamental, and is said to be engaging at all times of the year, and catches the attention even in winter; for then we see it stand, though naked of leaves, with a fine straight stem with smooth branches, spotted with white, at the end of which are buds swelled for the next year's shoot, giving the tree a bold and fine appearance." Encyc. Brit. E.)

+ (From σp, that which admits of being twisted, from its flexibility, or woven into garlands, to which use Pliny alludes. E.)

the lone spots in which it is observed in Britain, we can scarcely doubt its title to admission in our Flora. E.)

(WILLOW-LEAVED SPIREA. Welsh: Erivain helyg-ddail. E.) Mr. Gough of Kendal, who first remarked it as indigenous, says it occurs in moist hedges in Westmoreland, in many places on the borders of Winandermere, and that it has lately been observed by Mr. Dalton, of Manchester, by the road between Pool Bridge and Colthouse, near Hawkshead, Cumberland. (Hedge between Green Hammerton and Knaresborough, far from any house or garden. Teesdale. In a wood at Hafod, Cardiganshire, near a gate, in the eastern approach to the house. Sir J. E. Smith. Sides of fields about Pitcaithly, Perthshire, and in woods on the banks of Alt-Graad, Frith of Cromarty. Mr. Anderson. Banks of Cartlane Crags, Glasgow. Hopkirk. In a hedge in the parish of Llanwillog, between Bryngola and the church, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. In Gibside wood, Durham. Mr. R. Wigham. Eng. Fl. E.) S. July. S. FILIPEN DULA. Leaves interruptedly winged: leafits strap-spearshaped, irregularly serrated, smooth: flowers in tufts: (styles many. E.)

(Hook. Fl. Lond. 125. E.)—Fl. Dan. 635—E. Bot. 284-Blackw. 467– Kniph. 3-Fuchs. 562-Trag. 883-Lonic. i. 220. 2—Ger. 900. 1—Matth. 865-Clus. ii. 211. 2-Dod. 56. 1-Lob. Obs. 420. 3-Ger. Em. 1058. 1 -Park. 435. 1-Pet. 71. 6-H. Ox. ix. 20. row 1, left hand figure. (Roots consisting of numerous black, oval, farinaceous knobs or glandules, connected by slender fibres. Stems herbaceous, from one foot to a yard high or more. Leafits mostly alternate, smooth on both sides and shining. A pair of little leafits sessile on the leaf-stalk between each pair of larger leafits. Fruit-stalk bent before the flowers expand. Petals cream-coloured, purplish underneath, deflexed. Styles eight to twelve. Leaves high, slender, mostly radical. Plant varying greatly in size. E.) DROPWORT. (Welsh: Crogedyf. E.) Mountainous meadows and pastures, in calcareous soil. Swaffham Heath, Norfolk. Mr. Crowe. Ripton, Huntingdonshire. Mr. Woodward. Bredon Hill, above Overbury, Worcestershire. Nash. Near Madresfield, Worcestershire. Mr. Ballard. St. Vincent's Rocks, Bristol. Mr Swayne. Rocky ground between Dundee and Broughty Castle. Mr. Brown. About Stone Henge. (Debris of Salisbury Craigs, Edinburgh. Dr. Greville. At Baydales and Conniscliffe, near Darlington. Mr. Robson. In fields on the coast, near Whitburn. Winch Guide. Between the church and the Llanerchymêd road, in the parish of Llanbedr, Anglesey. Welsh Bot. E.) P. June-July.† S. ULMA'RIA. Leaves interruptedly winged: leafits egg-shaped,

doubly serrated, hoary underneath, (the terminal one largest and lobed: styles numerous: E.) flowers in tufts.

Curt. 340-(E. Bot. 960. E.)-Ludw. 23—Fl. Dan. 547-Blackw. 465— Kniph. 1-Clus. ii. 198. 1-Dod. 57-Ger. Em. 1043-Park. 592. 1— Pet. 71.8 – H. Ox. ix. 20, row 1. 1. fig. 3d.-Ger. 886—J. B. iii. 488. 2.

(Long cultivated in gardens and shrubberies by the name of Spiræa frutex, and generally propagated from suckers. The young shoots, being tough and pliable, are often used for the tops of fishing rods. E.)

The tuberous pea-like roots, (whence the trivial name, E.) dried and reduced to powder, make a kind of bread, which in times of scarcity, is not to be despised. Hogs are very fond of them. Linn. When expanded and enlarged by cultivation, sometimes with double flowers, this plant is a beautiful addition to the flower garden.