AMYGDALACEiE, 173 



(the thorns on these are abortive branches). Leaves simple^ ser- 

 rated, stalked, involute or plicate before expansion. Flowers 

 white, solitary or in pairs, or aggregate. Drupe (fruit) round or 

 oblong, succulent, usually coloured, with a glaucous efflorescence. 

 Nut oblong (nearly globular in the Cherry), more or less com-- 

 pressed, smooth or slightly furrowed, consisting of two slightly- 

 furrowed valves, with a prominent margin. 



P. spincsa, L. Sloe-tree. — e.b. 842. l.b.s. 314. 



A. 18. C. 80. Lat. 50-59°. Alt. 0-300 yds. Tern. 51-46°. 



Stems very rigid, 6-10 feet high (usually in several slender 

 rod-like stems from one root), more or less spinous (the spines 

 are long, sharp, and terminal when old, Bromfield) . Leaves el- 

 liptical or obovate, tapering towards the base, hairy or downy on 

 the under side (the young shoots and leaf-stalks are also more or 

 less hairy) . Flowers white, solitary or in pairs, or in small tufts, 

 usually expanded before the leaves. Fruit on short pedicels, 

 rounded, ovate (obovate), with a groove or scam on one side. Nu- 

 cleus (nut) roundish, rugose, with an adhering pulp. 



In hedges, thickets, etc. Tree or shrub ; flowers in April, and 

 bears fruit in September. 



Var. /3. P. insititia, h. Wild Bullace-tree. — e.b. 841. l.b.s. 

 314. 



? Eaiige as set under P. sj)inosa. 



Leaves downy on the under side. 2-flowered ; flowers simulta- 

 neous with the leaves?. Fruit large, globular or subglobular, 

 black, glaucous, green, or yellow. 



In hedges. 



Var. <y. P. domestica, L. Common Wild Plum-tree. — e.b. 

 1783. l.b.s. 314 c. — Leaves oblong or obovate; fruit drooping, 

 large, black, glaucous, violet, or reddish. — In hedges, near habi- 

 tations. 



Note. — There are numerous varieties of all these forms. 



P. Padus, L. Bird Cherry.— i^.b. 1383. l.b.s. 315. 



A. 15. C. 50. Lat. 51-59°. Alt. 0-350 yds. Tern. 49-43°. 



A small tree or shrub, with erect or spreading, slender, flexible 

 branches. Leaves large, obovate- oblong, tapering at the base, 

 toothed and wrinkled. Flowers numerous, small, in Jong, pen- 

 dulous clusters. Sepals rounded, blunt, fringed. Petals twice as 

 long as the sepals. Fruit globular, black or red, about as large 

 as peas, bitter and rough (austere). 



