694 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PARY III. 
of France where the variety is supposed to have been originated. Griottier is said to be de- 
rived from aigreur, sourness, or sharpness, and applied to this cherry from the acidity of its fruit. 
Spec. Char., §c. Tree small, branches spreading. Flowers in subsessile 
umbels, not numerous. Leaves oval-lanceolate, toothed, glabrous. The 
flowers are smaller than those of C. sylvéstris. The fruit is round, melting, 
full of a watery sap, more or less flavoured, and almost always sensibly 
acid. The skin of the fruit is commonly red, but, in the numerous varieties 
in cultivation, passing into all the shades between that colour and dark 
purple or black. The skin of all the varieties of C. vulgaris separates 
easily from the flesh, and the flesh parts readily from the stone; while, in 
all the varieties of C. sylvéstris, the skin is more or less adhering to the 
flesh, and the flesh to the stone. (Nouveau Du Hamel, y. p. 18.) This spe- 
cies forms a tree of less magnitude than that of C. sylvéstris: it is never 
found in a truly wild state in Europe, and the aboriginal form is unknown. 
There are numerous cultivated varieties, which are classed by Loiseleur, 
in the Nouveau Du Hamel, in three groups, including in the first of these 
the four following varieties, which we particularise on account of their 
being purely ornamental. 
Varieties. 
¥ C. v. 2 flore semipléno Hort. The semidouble common Cherry. 
t C. v. 3 flore pléno Hort. The double-flowered common Cherry.—All the 
stamens of this variety are changed into petals; and the pistillum 
into small green leaves, which occupy the centre of the flower. The 
flower is smaller and less beautiful than that of the double mérisier ; 
but, as the tree does not grow so high, and as it can be grown as a 
shrub, it is suitable for planting in situations where the other cannot 
be introduced. It is commonly grafted on the Prinus Mahaleb. 
The flower is interesting in a physiological point of view, on account 
of its central green leaves illustrating Goethe’s doctrine of vegetable 
metamorphoses. (See Lindl. Introd. to Bot., p. 143.) 
% C. v. 4 persiciflora Hort. The Peach-blossomed common Cherry. — The flowers are double, 
and rose-coloured. This variety was known to Bauhin and to Tournefort, but is at 
present rare in gardens. We have not seen it. 
% C.v. 5 folis variegatis Hort. The variegated-leaved common Cherry. 
The fruit-bearing varieties are arranged in the Nouveau Du Hamel, 
under the following heads : — 
1: “he whitish, and more or less acid; including the Montmorency 
cherry. 
2. Flesh whitish, and only very slightly acid; including the English 
duke cherries. 
3. Flesh red, including the griottiers, or morellos. 
The following selection has been made by Mr. Thompson, with a 
view of exemplifying the different formg which the varieties of the 
cultivated cherries assume, as standard trees : — 
The Bigarreau is a tree of vigorous growth, with large pale green 
leaves, and stout divergent branches. 
Buttner’s Yellow is a vigorous-growing tree, like the preceding, but 
with golden-coloured fruit. 
The Kentish Cherry is a round-headed tree, with slender shoots, some- 
what pendulous. 
The May Duke is a middle-sized or low tree, with an erect fastigiate 
head. 
The Morello is a low tree, with a spreading head, somewhat pen- 
dulous; most prolific in flowers and fruit; the latter ripening very 
late, and, from not being so greedily eaten by the birds as most other 
sorts, hanging on the trees a long time. 
D’ Ostheim is a dwarf weeping tree, a great bearer. 
General Description. The cherry trees in cultivation, whether in woods or 
gardens, may, in point of general appearance, be included in three forms: 
large trees with stout branches, and shoots proceeding from the main stem 
