Wild flowers of the north-eastern states

Chapter 22: ROSE FAMILY. ROSACEÆ.

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About This Book

This illustrated manual gathers 308 common wildflowers of the northeastern United States, each drawn life-size and accompanied by plain-language descriptions emphasizing habit, color, and growth rather than technical dissection. Organized by floral families in the sequence of Gray's Manual and arranged for seasonal bloom, entries include leaves, stems, and often whole growth, with occasional shrubs, vines, and fruit shown where notable. Aimed at amateur naturalists, it favors recognizable traits and folk names to ease identification, offers practical notes on variations and habitat, and pairs accurate botanical classification with accessible, pictorial presentation.

ROSE FAMILY.
ROSACEÆ.

Choke Berry.

Pyrus arbutifolia.

Found in wooded lands during April and May.

This small, branching shrub grows between 2 and 5 feet in height; it is woody-fibred, and the bark is reddish-gray in color.

The leaf is small, and oval, with an abruptly pointed tip, tapering to the base, the margin being finely toothed, with a smooth and shining surface. Its color is dark green. The leaves, on short stems, are placed alternately.

The 5 round petals of the flower have little claw-like bases, and are white in color; the many stamens are also white, with light red tips; the pistil is 5-parted. The flowers are set on light green foot-stems, and arranged in almost flat-topped clusters from the ends of the branches.

This neat and tidy looking leaf always shines as though just washed in dew. The pretty flower-clusters resemble plum blossoms.