Proceedings of the Ohio State .Icadeniy of Science 159 



acute or acuminate, mainly rounded at the base, glabrous, serru- 

 late. Leaves poisonous ; kernels probably poisonous. In rocky 

 woods. Xewf. to Ga., west to Rocky ]Mts. Ohio. 



9. Prunus mahaleb L. ^lahaleb Cherry. A small tree 

 with pale smooth bark. Leaves ovate, abruptly acute at the apex, 

 rounded or slightly cordate at the base, denticulate, glabrous, fra- 

 grant. Drupes with thin flesh and slightly flattened stone. From 

 Europe. Conn, to Out.. X. ^'., to Ohio and Kan. 



10. Prunus virginiana L. Choke Cherry. A shrub or 

 small tree with gray bark. Leaves obovate or broadly oval, 

 abruptly acute or acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base, ser- 

 rulate with slender teeth, glabrous or nearly so. Drupe red to 

 nearly black, sometimes yellow, very astringent, not edible. 

 Leaves poisonous ; kernels probably poisonous. vSelf-prunes leafy 

 fruiting branches. Along river banks and in rocky places. 

 Newf. to Man., Br. Col, Ca., Xeb., Tex., Colo., and Ohio. 



11. Prunus demissa (Xutt.) Walp. Western Choke 

 Cherry. A shrub or small tree ; drupe dark purple or black, glo- 

 bose, sweet or somewhat astringent. Leaves similar to those of 

 the preceding, thicker, acute or often obtusish at the apex, with 

 shorter teeth. Lrobably poisonous like the last. On bluffs, and 

 dry ground. X. Dak. to Kan., X. ]\Iex., Br. Col., and Cal. 



12. Prunus serotina Ehrh. Black Cherry. A large tree 

 with rough, black, flaky bark ; drupe globose, dark-purple or black, 

 sweet but slightly astringent. Leaves oval, oval-lanceolate, or 

 ovate, acuminate or acute, serrate with appressed teeth. Leaves 

 very poisonous to cattle, especially when half -wilted. Kernels 

 very poisonous. Wood rather heavy, hard, strong, of fine tex- 

 ture, of a 1)rown or reddish color; much used in cabinet-work and 

 interior finish, especially in cars and boats, also used in turnery. 

 Self-prunes twigs by means of cleavage planes in basal joints. 

 Out. to Fla., X. Dak., Kan., Tex., and Ohio. 



40. Amygdalus L. Peach. 



Trees or shrubs. Drupe in our species velvety with a deeply 

 pitted stone. 



I. Amygdalus persica L. Peach. A small tree with 



