ROSACEAE 75 



the true and original " Prunus Virginiana," of LINNAEUS; though 

 the specific name has been so long applied to the following. 



5. C. se rot ilia, DC. A. tree; leaves lance-oblong, taper-pointed, 

 finely serrate with incurved callous teeth. 

 C. Virginiana. MX. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 289. 

 LATE CERASUS. Wild Cherry. 



Stem 40 to 60 or 80 feet high, with large irregular spreading branches. Leaves 2 

 to 4 or 5 inches long, suhcoriaceous ; petioles half an inch to three-quarters in 

 length. Racemes 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, terminating the short branches which 

 arise from the last year's growth. Drupes globose, small, dark-purple or purplish- 

 black when mature, succulent, bitter and mawkish to the taste. 

 Hob. Along streams, fence-rows, Ac.: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. The wood of this species is a pale reddish-brown, close- 

 grained and hard taking a good polish ; and was formerly much 

 used by cabinet-makers. The bark though a rather unpalatable 

 bitter 4s a good tonic. The leaves are a favorite food of caterpil- 

 lars ; and the ripe fruit is greedily devoured by birds. 



SUBORDER II. ROSA V CEAE PROPER. 



Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees ; leaves simple or compound ; ovaries many or few, 

 rarely single, free from the calyx, but sometimes included in its persistent tube ; 

 fruit either follicles, akenes, or little drupes ; styles terminal or lateral. 



TRIBE 1. SPIRAE^AE. 



Pistils mostly 5, becoming few- or many-seeded follicles, in fruit; styles terminal. 



114. SPIRAE V A, L. 



[Gr. Speirao, to wind ; from its fitness to form garlands,] 

 Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Petals 5, roundish-obovate. Follicles 3, 

 5, or more, each 2-, 4- or many-seeded. Shrubs, or herbs : leaves 

 simple, sometimes lobed, and even-pinnately dissected. 



1. S. opulif olia, L. Leaves roundish-ovate and 3-lobed, doubly 

 crenate-serrate ; flowers corymbose ; follicles inflated. 

 OPULUS-LEAVED SPIRAEA. Nine-Bark. 



Shrub, 3 to 5 or 6 feet high, with spreading branches, and a loose lamellated 

 bark, the numerous layers suggesting the popular name. leaves 1 to 2 inches in 

 length, and nearly as wide as long, usually 3-lobed; petioles half an inch to three- 

 quarters in length. Corymbs subumbellate, convex, crowded, hoary-pubescent 

 when young ; common peduncle half an inch to an inch long. Flowers white, often 

 tinged with purple. Carpets 3 to 5, connate below, acuminate, usually 2-seeded ; 

 teeds obovoid. 

 Hob. Margins of streams : not common. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



2. S. alicif6lia, L. Leaves lance- oblong, acute or obtuse, 

 sharply serrate ; flowers in dense paniculate racemes ; follicles not 

 inflated. 



WILLOW-LEAVED SPIRAEA. Indian Pipeshank. Meadow-Sweet. 



Shrubby, 3 to 6 feet high, with erect suffruticose branches, which are smooth, 

 mostly dark purple, and pithy. Leaves about 2 inches long ; petioles very short ; 

 Stipules obsolete. Flowers reddish-white or pale-pink, crowded in paniculate ra- 

 cemes of 2 to 4 inches in length. Carpels 5, small, obovoid-oblong, acute at base, 

 obliquely beaked, several-seeded; seeds oblong, small. 

 Hob. Wet thickets: frequent Fl. June. Fr. Octo. 



