Viburnum lentago, L.

Form.—A shrub or small tree sometimes 15-25 feet high; trunk short and crown round-topped.

Leaves.—Opposite, simple 2½ inches long, ovate, long, abruptly taper-pointed, finely and sharply serrate; petioles winged.

Flowers.—May-June; perfect; small, white, in large many-flowered cymes which are usually 3-5 inches broad.

Fruit.—Black, ovoid, or ellipsoid drupe, which is sweet and juicy and contains a flat, oval, stone; borne on reddish stalks in often drooping clusters.

Bark.—On old trunks roughened by thin scales; reddish-brown.

Wood.—Heavy, hard, yellow-brown, with a disagreeable odor.

Range.—Quebec and Manitoba southward to Georgia and Missouri.

Distribution in West Virginia.—Found in Tucker and Grant counties and reported from Randolph County.

Habitat.—Banks of streams and in swamps.

Notes.—This Viburnum can be most easily distinguished by its leaves which are very finely serrate and are abruptly tapered into long slender points. Its flowers, fruit and foliage make it very desirable as an ornamental tree. Sheep-berry and Nanny-berry are also common names by which the species is known.