BIRD CHERRY : CHERRY LAUREL, ETC. 313 



equally large or even larger flowers, up to 35 mm. diameter, 

 in similar tufts with coloured membranous bracts at the 

 base, and bitter-sweet black-red fruits 12 15 mm. in 

 diameter. Pollen sulphur-yellow, ellipsoid-rounded, 52 /w, 

 long, with longitudinal folds and striae. Flowers homo- 

 gamous, offering pollen and honey. 



Floioers in axillary racemes; leaves con- 

 dxtplicate. 



Jf Racemes lax and pendent ; leaves 

 deciduous, with glandular petioles. 



P7'unus Padus, L. Bird Cherry (Fig. 127). Small tree, 

 with proterogynous flowers offering pollen and honey. 

 Flowers opening after the foliage, in pendent racemes, 

 small, white, sweet-scented. Fruit as large as a pea, 

 black, bitter-sweet, 



JtJf Racemes stiff and erect. Leaves ever- 

 green, the petioles eglandxdar. 



^ Leaves with glands flanking the mid- 

 rib below. 



Primus Laurocerasus, L. Cherry Laurel. Flowers 

 small, white, fragrant, in erect slender racemes; offering 

 pollen and honey. Fruit sub-globose, black. 



-=- -h Leaves devoid of glands. 



Prunus Lusitanica, L., Portugal Laurel, is very similar, 

 but has harder and thinner, darker foliage devoid of glands, 

 and the twigs and petioles purplish. 



OO Petals pink. Dr%ipe tough and leathery, 

 at length dehiscent; stone relatively soft, 

 much wrinkled. 



Amygdalus communis, L. Almond. Small tree, with 



