ROSE FAMILY 



141 



I. Prunus (Plum, Cherry). — Trees or shrubs ; leaves simple, 

 serrate, with glands on the petiole ; sepals 5, deciduous ; petals 5, 

 white; stametis 15 — 20; fruit a drupe with a smooth stone. 

 (Name classical ) 



"^ Leaves cojivohite : drupe glaucous 



1, P. spinbsa (Blackthorn or Sloe). — Bra?iches very spinous with 

 blackish bark ; leaves narrow, elliptical, smooth above, slightly 

 downy near the midrib 



below ; floiuers mostly 

 solitary, appearing before 

 the leaves ; fruit nearly 

 round, \ in. in diameter, 

 black and very austere. 

 — Woods and hedges : 

 abundant. A well-known 

 bush deriving its name 

 from the hue of its bark, 

 which is much darker 

 than that of the Haw- 

 thorn or Whitethorn, as 

 it is often called. The 

 leaves are said to be used 

 to adulterate tea, and the 

 fruit, which is so austere 

 that a drop of its juice 

 placed on the tongue 

 will produce a roughness 

 on the throat and palate 

 perceptible for a long 

 time, is said to enter 

 largely into the composi- 

 tion of spurious port 

 wine. — Fl. March, April. 

 Perennial. 



2. P. insititia (BuUace). — Branches ending in a spine, with 

 brown bark ; leaves elliptical, downy beneath ; floivers in pairs, 

 appearing with the leaves ; fruit globose, pendulous, nearly i in. 

 in diameter, black or yellow, more palatable than the sloe. — 

 Woods and hedges. Larger than the last. — Fl. April, May. 

 Perennial. 



3.* P. domestica (Wild Plum). — A small tree without spines, 

 with brown bark ; leaves downy on the veins beneath ; fruit 

 oblong, an inch or more in diameter, sweet. — The original of our 



PRUNUS AVIUM {Geati). 



