240 XLVIU. ROSACEA. Crnasvs. 
SuporpeRI—AMYGDALEX. 
Ovary solitary. Fruita drupe. Seeds mostly solitary. Calyx deciduous. 
1. CERASUS. Juss. 
Name from Cerasus, a town in Pontus, whence originated the garden cherry. 
Calyx 5-cleft, regular, deciduous; petals much spreading; stamens 
15—30; drupe globose, succulent, very smooth, destitute of a glau- 
cous bloom ; nucleus subglobose, smooth.— Trees or shrubs. Lvs. con- 
duplicate in a@stivation. 
? * Flowers in racemes. 
1. C. serotina. DC. (C. Virginiana. Michz. Prunus. Ehrh.) Black 
or Wild Cherry.—Lws. deciduous, oval-oblong, acuminate, unequally serrate, 
smooth, shining above; petioles with 2—4 glands; rac. spreading, elongated—A 
large forest tree, throughout the U.S. Trunk 50—80f high, of uniform size and 
undivided to the height of 20—30f,2—4f diam. Bark blackand rough. Leaves 
3—5’ long; 4 as wide, with 1—2 pairs of reddish glands at base. In May and 
June it puts forth numerous cylindrie clusters of white flowers. Fruit nearly 
black when mature, bitterish, yet pleasant to the taste, and is greedily devoured 
by birds.—The wood, extensively used in cabinet-work, is compact, fine-grained, 
and receives a high polish. The bark has a strong, bitter taste, and has been 
used in medicine as a tonic. 
2.C. Viraintana. DC. (C.serotina. Hook. Prunus. Linn.) Choke Cherry. 
Lvs. smooth, sharply serrate, oval, deciduous, the lower serratures glandu- 
lar, veins bearded on each side towards the base; petiole with 2 glands; rac. 
lax, short, spreading; pet. orbicular—A small tree or shrub, 5—20f high, in 
woods and hedges. Bark grayish. Leaves 2—3/ long, } as wide, with a short, 
abrupt acumination, and spreading, subulate serratures. Flowers white, ap- 
pearing in May. The fruit (cherries) is abundant, of a dark red color, very 
astringent to the taste, yet on the whole agreeable. 
** Flowers subumbellate or solitary. 
3. C. Pennsytvanica. Ait. (Prunus borealis. Ph.) Wild Red Cherry. 
Lvs. oblong-ovate, acuminate, finely serrate, membranous, smooth; wmdbels 
corymbose, with elongated pedicels; drupe small, ovoid-subglobose——A small 
tree, common in woods and thickets in the Northern States. The trunk rarely 
exceeds 25f in height, with a diameter of 6—8’. Bark smooth, reddish-brown. 
Leaves 2—5/ long, } as wide, the fine teeth mostly glandular, apex tapering to 
a long acumination. Flowers white, on long (23’) slender pedicels collected 
‘into a sort of umbel. Fruit red, very acid—This tree is of rapid growth, and 
quickly succeeds a forest-clearing if neglected. May. 
4. C. pumita. Michx. (Prunus depressa. Ph.) Sand C : 
Lws. lanceolate, oval or obovate, acute, subserrate, smooth, paler beneath ; 
umbels few-flowered, sessile; drupe ovoid.—A small, trailing shrub, in gravelly 
soils, Can. and U.S. Branches ascending, 1—2f high. Leaves 2—3’ long, 4 
as wide, very acute at each end. Flowers white, 3, 4 or 5 in each umbel, the 
pedicels smooth, 1’ in length. Fruit small, dark red, acid but agreeable to the 
taste. May. 
5. C. Avium. Mench. (Prunus. Linn.) Duke Cherry. Ox-heart. English 
Cherry. Bigareau, §c., §-c.—Branches erect or ascending; lvs. oblong-obovate, 
acuminate, hairy beneath ; wmbels sessile, with rather long pedicels ; drupe ovoid- 
globose, subcordate at base—Cultivated in gardens, fields, &c.,common. Trunk 
20—5O0f in height, with an oblong or pyramidal head. Leaves 3—6’ long, } as 
wide, on petioles 1—2/ long, often with 2 glands. Flowers expanding with the 
leaves, white. Drupes various shades of red, firm but juicy. May.—The fruit 
is well known and appreciated. About 75 varieties are published in American 
eatalogues. + 
6. C. voreins, 222, (Prunus Cerasus. Linn.) Sour Cherry. Large Red 
Cherry. Morello, 6c.—Branches spreading ; ves; cyate-lanceolats, aia apex, 
narrowed at base, nearly smooth ; wmbels subsessile, with short pee. _ ’ 
