BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Vol. ^. MARCH, 1877. JVo. 5' 



Prunijs Alleghamensis, n. sp. — A low shrub with straggling branches, 3 to 5 ft. 

 high, fbut frequently assuming a tree-form and reaching a height of 12 ft. or more, 

 seldom thorny; leaves oblanceolate to obovate, often long-acuminate, finely and 

 sharply serrate, biglandular at base, softly and finely pubescent when young, glabrate 

 when old, especially on the upper side ; umbels 2 to 4 flowered, nearly sessile ; pedi- 

 cels and calyx finely pubescent; pedicels about 3^ an inch long; clayx-tube narrowly 

 obconic, 2 lines long, with the ovate-oblong, obtuse teeth a little shorter ; petals round- 

 obovate, 3 lines long ; fruit globose-ovoid, under }^ an inch in the greater diameter 

 and over ^^ in the lesser, very dark purple, covei-ed with a bloom ; stone turgid, some- 

 what obovoid, witli a blunt point, a shallow groove on one side and a broad flat ridge 

 on the other.^In Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, on the limestone bluffs of the 

 Little Juniata, northward through the Barrens, and westward over the Alleghanies 

 as far as tlie extremity of Boon's Mountain, Ellt County, where it was found by the 

 late Mr. McMinn. My attention was first called to this plum, years ago, by my friend, 

 J. R. Lowrie, Esq., of Warriorsmark. From him and Miss N . J. Davis I have received 

 good specimens in flower and fruit, and have also seen and collected it myself in various 

 localities. It produces an abundance of fruit of a pleasant acid taste, known by the 

 name of "Sloes" among the people of the region and sometimes used by them for 

 makmg pies or preserves. It appears to be exempt from the attacks of tlie curculio or 

 otlier insects. Although nearly allied to Priirins maritima, Wang., var. b., T. & G. {P. 

 'pyfjmcea, Willd.j, its remoteness from the sea-board, its habitat on bluffs and mountains, 

 its proportionally narrower and longer decidedly acuminate leaves, its smaller fruit, 

 and especially the character of the stone, seem to entitle it to rank as a distinct species. 

 — Thos. C. Porter, Easion, Penn. 



Notes ox the Arboreous, Arborescent and Suffruticose Flora op Oregon. 

 — Berberis AquifoUum, Pursh and B. nervosa, Pursh. Both species about equally com- 

 mon in the woods of tlie lower Cascades; the latter scarcely arborescent above the 

 ground, whilst the former forms a branching busli 2 to 3 feet high. The fruit of both 

 species is used by tlie inhabitants, and is called in some localities "wild grapes." 



Rhus dioersiloba, T. & G. {R. lobata, Hook.) A low spreading bushy species having 

 the fruit of R. Toxicodendron, and otherwise resembling the upright form of that species. 



Acer mrvcrophtiUum, Pursh. The large leaved maple abounds in many localities 

 but chiefly near streams and in bottoms, attaining 3 feet in diameter, averaging 1 to 2, 

 and from 40 to 70 feet high, but mostly with scrubby, gnarled trunks, afl'ording very lit- 

 tle clear lumber. Used in various manufactures and for fuel. Is much more valuable 

 for the latter use than the Conifer cb and is probably equal to the oak. Though not 

 abundant it is at present extensively used for the purposes mentioned. 



Acer circiiuitum, Pursh. The Vine-Maple. So called from the habit of its growth, 

 elongating its trunk without correspondingly increasing the diameter. This causes it 

 to spread or grow horizontally on the ground or in an ascending position. It forms 

 dense thickets on the margins of streams and on wet hill-sides almost inaccessible even 

 to one on foot. 



