THE DRUPE-FRUITS 161 



separated into two species, P. piimila proper of the Great Lakes, 

 and P. depressa the more eastern plant ; the differences have 

 not been worked out pomologically, however, and present treat- 

 ment may follow traditional lines. 



235. The Sand cherry described. — A full description is given 

 that the species may be told readily from the closely related 

 P. Besseyi. 



5. Frunus pumila, Linn. Plant a shrub 5-8 foet in height, decumbent; 

 trunk slender, smooth except for the raised lenticels; branches slender, 

 smooth, twiggy, dark, dull reddish-black with a tinge of gray. Leaves 

 hanging late in the season, small, 1% inches long, 1 inch wide, flat, pointed, 

 narrowly oblanceolate, thin; lower surface thinly pubescent on the midrib 

 and veins; midrib small, straight; veins very minute; margin serrate, with 

 teeth tipped Avith very small glands; petiole short, 1% inches in length, 

 glandless. Flowers small, in 2- to 5-flowered umbels, white; pedicels slender, 

 ^2 inch in length. Fruit round, pendulous, purple-black, without bloom, 

 % inch in diameter; flesh thin, sour and astringent; season late; stone 

 turgid, round. 



The Western Sand cherry. 



The western sand or Rocky Mountain cherry is found on 

 the prairies from Manitoba and Minnesota to southern Kansas 

 and westward into Montana. In its natural range, it undoubt- 

 edly runs into that of the eastern sand cherry and some botan- 

 ists believe that the two species grade into each other; but the 

 two are as distinct as are many other of the more or less indefi- 

 nite species of this genus. 



236. Prunus Besseyi described. — The following description 

 should be compared carefully with that of the eastern sand 

 cherry. 



6. Prunus Besseyi, Bailey. Plant a small spreading shrub, 1-4 feet in 

 height; trunk slender, smooth; branches slender, smooth, brownish-black, 

 with numerous lenticels. Leaves hanging late, numerous, small, 2% inches 

 long, 1 inch wide, thick, stiff; apex with a short taper-point, broadly 

 lanceolate; upper surface dark green, glossy, smooth; lower surface with 

 teeth tipped with indistinct glands; petiole thick, % inch in length, gland- 

 less or with one to tAvo small globose glands; stipules leaf -like. Flowers 

 in sessile umbels, small, white. Fruit l^ inch in diameter, globose, oblong- 

 pointed, yellow, mottled or purple-black; more or less astringent; stone 

 large, globose, flattened. 



237. Pomological characters of the Western Sand cherry. — 

 Although this cherry has received attention less than a quarter 



