Vor. IL] PLUM FAMILY. 253 
1g. Prunus demissa (Nutt.) Walp. Western Wild Cherry. (Fig. 2025.) 
y 
Cerasus demissa Nutt. in T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: qr. 
1840. . 
Prunus demissa Walp. Rep. 2:10. 1843. : SFX aN 
Ay \ \ 
A shrub or small tree, with greatest heightof ‘“S/ a4, j 
about 30° and trunk diameter of 144°, but usu- 3 y 
ally much smaller. Leaves similar to those of Ye 
the preceding species, but thicker, acute or ane, Ss N 
often obtusish at the apex, and with shorter «@ (Fy Wi 
teeth; flowers white, 4/”-5’’ broad; racemes ZA Swe 
generally dense, short or elongated, densely- Ww SD Wee) 
. ff ve n nee 
flowered, terminating leafy branches; drupe ENC PoaE sh oS 
dark purple or black, sweet or but slightly ose 
astringent, globose, 3/’-4/’ in diameter; stone ; oA Bee = 
. globular. ys 
Wades 
Prairies and dry soil, Dakota to Nebraska and SS t ZO 7, 
New Mexico, west to British Columbia and Cali- 
fornia. Wood hard, not strong, light brown; : -_ 
weight per cubic foot 43 lbs. Perhaps intergrades 
with the preceding species. May-July. Fruit 2 
ripe in August. <Sh 
20. Prunus serotina Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry. Cabinet or Rum Cherry. 
7 (Fig. 2026.) 
Prunus serotina Ehth. Beitr. 3:20. 1788. 
Cerasus serolina l,ois. Nouv. Duham, 5: 3. 
1812. 
A large tree, with maximum height of 
about go° and trunk diameter of 4°, the bark 
rough and black. Leaves thick, oval, oval- 
lanceolate or oyate, acuminate or acute at 
the apex, narrowed or rounded at the base, 
glabrous, or pubescent along the veins be- 
neath, serrate with appressed callous teeth; 
flowers similar to those of the two preceding 
species, the racemes elongated, spreading or 
drooping, terminating leafy branches, petals 
obovate; drupe globose, 4’/-5’’ in diameter; 
dark purple or black, sweet but slightly as- 
tringent. 
In woods or open places, southern Ontario to 
Florida, Dakota, Kansas and Texas. Wood 
hard, strong, reddish-brown; weight per cubic 
foot 36 lbs; used in cabinet making. May. 
Fruit ripe Aug.—Sept. 
Prunus serétina Smallii Britton. 
Cerasus serotina montana Small, Mem. Torr. Club, 4: 114. 1894. Not P. montana Marsh. 1785. 
Leaves firm, coriaceous, coarsely serrate, pale beneath; racemes thick, divergent, rather few- 
flowered; calyx and filaments pubescent. Summit of White Top Mountain, Virginia. 
2. AMYGDALUS I.. Sp. Pl. 472. 1753. 
Trees or shrubs, with mostly lanceolate serrulate short-petioled leaves, and pink or white 
flowers solitary or clustered at the nodes of the twigs of the preceding season. Petals 
spreading. Stamens 20-30, distinct, the filaments filiform. Style and stigma as in Prunus. 
Exocarp of the fruit mostly fleshy, velvety in the following species; endocarp (stone) bony, 
deeply pitted or nearly smooth, oval or oblong, pointed, more or less compressed. [Name 
said to be Syrian. ] 
About 5 species, natives of Asia, to which are added by some authors 2 or 3 shrubs (genus 
Emplectroclados Torr.) of western North America. 
