THE CHERRY ] 371 



than in the preceding species but more open. The drupe 

 or fruit is long stalked, with the flesh detached from the 

 stone. (It. msciolo. Fr. ctrisier franc). It includes 

 the following forms. 



I. CAPRONIANA Lin. (Rchb.) The leaves are ovate- 

 acuminate, doubly serrated. The fruit is spreading or 

 half pendulous. This is the hautbois cherry. (It. =ama- 

 rena, marena. ^r.^=griotte. M. = amarena). 



(a) Acidq (Ehrh.) The juice is pale red, very 

 juicy and very acid. 



(b) A us t era (Ehrh.)=C Caproniana var. griotta 

 Ser. in D.C. The fruit is blood red or deep purplish 

 black. The flesh is of the same colour, acid and bitterish. 

 This form is naturalised in our valleys and gardens being 

 common at Xlendi, Nadur, Boschetto, Chain il Cbira, 

 Melleha etc. and is used as stock for the other cultivated 

 cherries. 



(c) Pallescens (Ser in D.C.) with yellow fruits and 

 colourless juice. 



II. MARASCA (Rchb.) = Cerasus Marasca Host. 

 The leaves are ovate and crenate, and the fruit is pen- 

 dulous with a very long stalk and of a lively red colour. 

 This is the Marascha Cherry (It. =marasca or amarasca). 

 The fruit is made use of in the manufacture of liqueurs 

 (maraschino) . 



III. PUMILA Lin. = P. Chamaecerasus J acq. = Cera - 

 sus Chamaecerarm Lois. This is the ground cherry, and 

 is a purely wild form, with small ovate-lanceolate and 

 crenate leaves, and produces small purplish red fruits 

 with very acid juice. 



3. Prunus Mdhaleb Lin. = Cerasus Mahaleb Nouv. 

 Duk. Padus Mahaleb Eorkh. This is the Mahaleb 

 Cherry or perfumed cherry, (Fr. =cetisier odorant, or 

 c. de Sainte Lucie. It. = ciliegio canino. M.=cirasa sal- 

 vaggia). It is a thorny shrub or small tree, with roundish 

 ovate leaves, and erect corymbose racemes of small white 



