AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 279 



cherry, found in southwestern Virginia, Georgia and Alabama. It is 

 found on the open rocky summits of the higher altitudes. This form is a 

 tree 25 to 35 feet high, with very rough bark and drooping branches. The 

 wild red cherry, or pigeon cherry (P. pennsylvanica) is common in the 

 Northwestern States, and secretes nectar freely. 



Both leaves and seeds of all these forms are poisonous, although the 

 fruit is edible. There seem to be well authenticated cases of poisoning of 

 cattle from eating the leaves, and of children dying from swallowing the 

 seeds. Pammel, in his book of poisonous plants, gives an extended de- 

 scription of the chemical action in such cases. The poisonous property 

 of all species of cherry leaves, according to authorities quoted there, is 

 due to prussic acid. The poison does not exist as such in the growing 

 plant, but by the action of moisture and a vegetable ferment which exist 

 in the plant, a complicated chemical reaction takes place when the leaves 

 are separated from the stem. Wild cherry bark is used to some extent 

 in medicine. 



Wild cherries are not often reported as valuable sources of nectar. 

 Richter lists the western choke cherry as a source of honey in California, 

 and Lovell mentions the wild red cherry in the Eastern States. The writer 

 has a sample of wild cherry honey sent to him from the apiary of W. S. 

 Pangburn, of Jones County, Iowa, having a distinct cherry taste and bright 

 yellow color. After two years it shows no trace of granulation, although 

 subject to all changes of temperature of Iowa climate, both summer and 

 winter. All but few of the samples of honey in the collection have candied 

 under similar conditions. 



Since in the Northern States it blooms after the domestic fruits and 

 just before the opening of white clover, it should prove of considerable 

 value where present in quantity. 



WILD CHINA (Sapindus drummondi). See also CHINA TREE. 



The wild China tree, also known as chinaberry, soapberry, or um- 

 brella tree, is a common shade tree in the Southeastern States. It is also 

 found in the Southwestern States to some extent. In Alabama it is a con- 

 spicuous feature of the grounds about the homes of rich and poor alike, 

 quantities of the amber colored berries hanging after the leaves have 

 fallen. It is cultivated to a less extent in Texas and California as an orna- 

 mental. It also occurs commonly in New Mexico and Arizona. The Span- 

 ish name for this tree is "jaboncillo." 



It is frequently mentioned as a honey plant in the Southern States, 

 but is probably not sufificiently common in many places to be important. 

 It is sometimes confused with the China tree (Melia azedarach), which see. 



WILD CRAB APPLE, see Crab Apple. 



WILD CUCUMBER (Echinocystis lobata). 



The wild cucumber, or wild balsam apple (Fig. 146) is a climbing vine 

 common along streams from New England to Texas. It is also commonly 

 cultivated as a shade for arbors and porches. The plant is an annual and 



