THE SPINDLEBERRY TREE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22073, 22 April 1937, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE SPINDLEBERRY TREE

(By Winifred Chapman)

"Spindlewood, spindlewood, will you lend me, pray, A little flaming lantern to guide me on my way? The fairies have all vanished from the meadow and the glen, And I would fain go seeking till X And them once again. Lend me now a lantern that I may bear a light „ . , . ~ To find the hidden pathway in the darkness of the night." There you have a modern poet's idea of the flaming colour of the fruit of the spindletree, but I think 1 that if the birds were asked their opinion, they would mention rather , the orange berries which the flaming lanterns hold. Each little lantern has four berries, so the birds really have the best of it, after all. Blackbirds, thrushes, and sparrows haunt the tree all day until they have taken every one. However, even they, in their assiduity, cannot strip the tree of its winter beauty, for the bright pink or scarlet capsules hang on the branches long after both berries and leaves have gone. Their vivid colour enlivens the bare winter landscape. The birds, of course, drop many of the seeds, which soon germinate, so that there are always numbers of spindle seedlings coming up beneath the tree and in odd corners of the garden. The spindlewood is really more of a shrub than a tree, and it is a native of Britain. It has long, thin branches with dark bark, and the wood when cut is very tough and white. In former times, it was used for spindles, and when burnt it makes good charcoal for drawing or for any other purpose. The thin branches are also very useful for small garden stakes. The leaves are rather dark green and do not as a rule assume a very bright tint before they fall in autumn. The flowers, which appear in late spring, are inconspicuous, being small and of a greenish colour. The chief beauty and distinction of the spindlewood is in the unique four-celled pink capsules and orange seeds which succeed the tiny flowers. The capsules are so delicately formed and of such a dainty colour that they remind one of fragile china cups, or an exquisite afternoon tea service provided by nature. The roots are very greedy and starve out anything growing near. They make tangled mats, which spread for yards near the surface of the soil, so that it is impossible to put a fork or a spade into it. Nevertheless, anything as lovely this tree is in the barren winter months may be forgiven many sms. It should, however, - be planted where it may be an adornment, and yet not deprive its neighbours of their rightful nourishment. As time goes on and the weather becomes colder, the bright colour of the capsules seems to intensify, the pink passing to a glowing scarlet. It is then that they resemble little flaming lanterns dangling on the bare branches, ahd the tree becomes a striking . and cheering sight in the distance on a bleak, grey day.

NOTICE

Specimens of insects or plants are invited from readers. The conditions under v.hich such specimens are found as well as the locality, should be clearly stated. It is necessary to state whether the specimen, if an insect, was dead or olive when it was found.