CHAP. III.] POME^. 65 



The genus Cerasus is divided into two sections, 

 the first containing those species which have 

 their flowers in bunches, and on long footstalks, 

 as in the common Cherry ; and the second those 

 which have their flowers in racemes on short 

 footstalks, as in the Bird- cherry {Cerasus 

 Padus) ; the Mahaleb, or Bois de Sainte Lucie 

 {Cerasus Mahaleb) ; the common Laurel {Ce- 

 rasus Lauro-Cerasus) ; and the Portugal Laurel 

 {Cerasus lusitanicus) , These plants are so dif- 

 ferent from the common Cherry both in flowers 

 and fruit, as far as can be judged from their 

 general appearance, as scarcely to be recog- 

 nised ; but when closely examined their bo- 

 tanical construction will be found the same. 

 Formerly only two genera were included in this 

 tribe — viz. Amygdalus, which comprised the 

 Peach and Nectarine as well as the Almond ; 

 and Prunus, w'hich included the Apricot and 

 the Cherry. 



TRIBE v.— POMEtE. 



The common apple {Pyrus Malus) may be 

 considered the type of this tribe, which com- 

 prehends not only what we are accustomed to 

 call kerneled fruit, but also the Hawthorn, 

 Cotoneaster, and other ornamental shrubs and 

 low trees. The flower of the apple bears con- 



