GENUS 2. 



i. Padus nana (Du Roi) Roemer. 

 Choke Cherry. Fig. 2425. 



Prunus nana Du Roi, Harbk. Baumz. I 2 : 194. /. 4. 



1772. 

 Padus nana Roem. Arch, i 2 : 38. 1797. 



A shrub, 2-io high, rarely a small tree, 

 with gray bark. Leaves thin, obovate to ovate 

 or oval, abruptly acute or acuminate at the 

 apex, rounded at the base, glabrous or some- 

 what pubescent on the lower surface, sharply 

 or doubly serrulate with slender teeth ; petioles 

 with several glands ; flowers white, 4"-s" 

 broad, in erect or spreading mainly loosely- 

 flowered racemes ; petals suborbicular ; pedi- 

 cels 2"-3" long, drupe red to nearly black, 

 rarely yellow, globose, 4"-s" in diameter, very 

 astringent ; stone globular. 



Along river-banks and in rocky situations, New- 

 foundland to Manitoba, Georgia and Texas. April- 

 May. Fruit ripe in July or August. 



iy- 

 O 



3. Padus virginiana (L.) Mill. Wild 



Black Cherry. Cabinet or Rum 



Cherry. Fig. 2427. 



Prunus virginiana L. Sp. PI. 473. 1753- 



Padus virginiana Mill. Card. Diet. Ed. 8, no. 3. 



1768. 



Prunus serotina Ehrh. Beitr. 3: 20. 1788. 

 Prunus serotina Smallii Britton, in Britt. & Brown, 



111. Fl. 2: 253. 1897. 



A large tree, with maximum height of about 

 90 and trunk diameter of 4, the bark rough 

 and black. Leaves thick, oval, oval-lanceolate 

 or ovate, acuminate or acute at the apex, 

 narrowed or rounded at the base, glabrous, or 

 pubescent along the veins beneath, serrate with 

 appressed callous teeth; flowers similar to 

 those of the two preceding species, the 

 racemes elongated, spreading or drooping, 

 terminating leafy branches, petals obovate; 

 drupe globose, 4"-5" in diameter; dark purple 

 or black, sweet but slightly astringent. 



In woods or open places, Nova Scotia to Florida, 

 South Dakota, Kansas and Texas. Wood hard, 

 strong, reddish -brown ; weight per cubic foot ; 

 Ibs.; used in cabinet making. Wild or whiskey 

 cherry. May. Fruit ripe Aug.-Sept. 



2. Padus melanocarpa (A. Nelson) Shafer. 

 Rocky Mountain Wild Cherry. Fig. 2426. 



Cerasus demissa melanocarpa A. Nelson, Bot. Gaz. 



34: 25. 1902. 

 P. melanocarpa Shafer ; Britton & Shafer, N. A. Trees 



504. 1908. 



A shrub or small tree, with greatest height of 

 about 30 and trunk diameter of ii, but usu- 

 ally much smaller. Leaves glabrous, similar to 

 those of the preceding species, but thicker, acute 

 or often obtusish at the apex, and with shorter 

 teeth ; flowers white, 4"-5" broad ; racemes 

 generally dense, short or elongated, densely- 

 flowered, terminating leafy branches; drupe dark 

 purple or black (rarely yellow), sweet or but 

 slightly astringent, globose, 3"-4" in diameter. 



Prairies and dry soil, North Dakota to Nebraska 

 and New Mexico, west to British Columbia and Cali- 

 fornia. Wood hard, not strong, light brown ; weight 

 per 'cubic foot 43 Ibs. Western choke-cherry. May- 

 July. Fruit ripe in August. Padus demissa (Nutt.) 

 Roemer, of northwestern America, with leaves pubes- 

 cent beneath, and red or purplish fruit, may not be 

 distinct from P. nana. 



