276 



THE BOOK OF FORESTRY 



WESTERN CHOKE CHEERY 



WESTERN CHOKE CHERRY 



Prunus demissa 



[FORM 



In favorable situations taking on tree 

 form 20' high and 6" in diameter, 

 otherwise a shrub growing in thickets 

 4'-10' high. 



LEAVES 



Thick and leathery, deep'dull green, 

 smooth and shiny above, pale be- 

 neath. Edges have straight sharp 

 teeth; leaves, twigs and bark when 

 crushed yield strong scent Kke 

 peach pits. 



FLOWER 



White, borne in dense cylindrical clus- 

 ters. 



FRUIT 



Shiny black cherries \"-%" in diam- 



y eter in cylindrical clusters. Ripens 



* in early autumn. Sweet but 



has sharp aftertaste. Used for 



E reserving and greedily eaten by 

 irds. 



RANGE 



British Columbia south through 

 mountains of California nearly to 

 Mexican border, east to Western 

 Nebraska and Kansas. 



