AMYGDALEjE. 



of a gentleman who died in consequence of having swallowed a 

 salad of the flower in order to purge himself; and another of a 

 child which perished after taking a decoction of the flowers to 

 destroy worms. 



CERASUS. 



A genus differing from Prunus only in its fruit being destitute 

 of bloom, with the stone round instead of acute, and the leaves 

 when in bud folded flat, not rolled up. The leaves are generally 

 flat and smooth. (Cherries and Bird-cherries.) 



472. C. Laurocerasus Lois. Desl. in. Duham. ed. nov. 5. p. 6. 

 DC.prodr. ii. 54-0. — Prunus Laurocerasus Linn.sp. pi. 678. 

 Woodv. ed. ii. 185. S. and C. ii. t. 117. — Neighbourhood of 

 Trebizonde, now common in gardens every where. (Cherry 

 Laurel, Common Laurel.) 



A small evergreen tree, smooth in every part, with pale green shining 

 shoots. Leaves short-stalked, oblong, acuminate, recurved at the point, 

 serrated, coriaceous, shining; with 2 or 4 small yellow glands at the 

 base on the under side. Racemes axillary, erect, stalked, shorter or as 

 long as the leaves, quite simple. Segments of calyx obtuse. Petals 

 concave, roundish, spreading, white. Stamens 20, spreading, as long 

 as the petals. Fruit a round black drupe the size of a small cherry. — 

 The leaves, bark and seeds abound in prussic acid, which exists in great 

 abundance in the distilled water. This is a deadly poison, producing 

 vomiting, great loss of strength, convulsions and death. The oil of 

 laurel is also a virulent poison. 



473. C. virginiana Mich. bor. am. i. 285. DC.prodr. ii. 539. 



— Prunus rubra Ait. Kew. ed. 1. ii. 162. Willd. arb. 238. 

 f. 5. t. 1. — Woods of Virginia and Carolina, Alleghany 

 Mountains. 



A small slender tree, perfectly smooth in every part. Shoots 

 slender, brownish. Leaves deciduous, ovate-oblong, acuminate, finely 

 serrated, on rather long stalks having 2^t glands at the apex ; no hairs 

 whatever on the under side. Racemes long, erect, terminal, with a 

 solitary flower now and then in the axil of the leaves next the raceme. 

 Bracts inconspicuous. Calyx with sharp shallow segments. Petals 

 white. Drupes small, bright red. — Leaves considered poisonous. 

 Bark a good febrifuge. 



474. C Padus DC. — Prunus padus Linn. sp. 677. E. Bot. 

 t. 1383. (the common Bird-cherry) abounds in the oil of bitter 

 almonds, and consequently is a dangerous poison. 



475. C. Capollim DC. prodr. ii. 539 Cool regions of 



Mexico. 



A small tree quite smooth in every part. Leaves evergreen, ellip- 

 tical, acuminate, finely serrate, with 2 or 3 larger teeth near the base; 

 petioles glandless, or with not more than 1 gland. Flowers as in 

 C. virginiana. Fruit round, black,' shining, the size of a Corone cherry. 



— Bark considered a good febrifuge. 



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