The Trees of Vermont 151 



ROSACEAE 



Black Cherry 



Prunus serotina Ehrh. [Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Agardh.] 



Habit. — A medium-sized tree 30-50 feet high and 8-24 inches in 

 trunk diameter ; branches few, large, tortuous, forming a rather spread- 

 ing, oblong or rounded crown. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, 2-5 inches long, about one-half as 

 broad; oval or oblong to oblong-lanceolate; finely serrate, with teeth 

 incurved ; subcoriaceous ; dark green and very lustrous above, paler 

 beneath, glabrous both sides ; petioles short, slender, usually bearing 2 

 red glands near the blade. 



Flowers. — May-June, when the leaves are half grown; perfect; 

 34 inch across; borne on slender pedicels in many-flowered, loose 

 racemes 4-5 inches long ; calyx cup-shaped, 5-lobed ; petals 5, white ; 

 stamens 15-20; stigma thick, club-shaped. 



Fruit. — August-September ; a globular drupe, 5^-3^ inch in di- 

 ameter, nearly black, with dark purple, juicy flesh ; slightly bitter, 

 edible. 



Winter-buds. — Terminal bud about 34 inch long, ovoid, blunt to 

 acute ; scales keeled on the back, apiculate, light brown. 



Bark. — Twigs and branches red to red-brown ; young trunks dark 

 red-brown, smooth ; blackish on old trunks and rough, broken into 

 thick, irregular plates ; bitter, aromatic. Plate VI. 



W09D. — Light, rather hard, strong, close- and straight-grained, 

 light brown or red, with thin, yellow sapwood. 



Distribution. — Common throughout Vermont. 



Habitat. — Woodlands ; in all sorts of soils and exposures. 



Notes. — This is the only native Vermont cherry which reaches a 

 sufficient size to make it a valuable timber tree. It has been exported 

 in considerable quantities from the southern part of Vermont, but now 

 large trees are seldom found. The wood is of very superior quality 

 for cabinet making, and commands the highest price of any native 

 American timber. It has a beautiful grain and takes a very fine poHsh. 

 The flowers resemble other cherry blossoms and are borne in racemes. 

 The fruit at first is dark red, then becomes almost black, with a thick 

 skin and dark juicy flesh, which generally is rather bitter but sometimes 

 sweet and pleasant. 



