PRUNUS 237 



P. GRAYANA, Maximowicz. GRAY'S BIRD CHERRY. 



(Padus Grayana, C. K. Schneider?) 



A native of Japan, where it is a small tree 20 to 30 ft. high, with a slender 

 trunk. This species is very closely allied to our common bird cherry (P. Padus), 

 differing chiefly in the leaves, which have no glands on the very short stalks 

 (almost invariably present in P. Padus), and in the teeth being finer and 

 more hair-like. The white flowers are borne in erect racemes up to 4 ins. 

 long. Fruit black, about the size of peas, narrowing towards the apex. The 

 species inhabits the mountain forests of the main island of Japan, and the 

 southern parts of Yezo. The true plant is very uncommon in cultivation. 



P. HORTULANA, Bailey. WAYLAND PLUM. 



A deciduous tree, 20 to 30 ft. high, sometimes a shrub. Leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate, 4 to 6 ins. long, one-quarter as much wide, hairy below along the 

 midrib and in the axils of the veins ; margins set with glandular teeth. 

 Flowers white, | to I in. across, produced on the year-old wood in April and 

 May in stalkless clusters of two to six ; calyx-lobes glandular, toothed. Fruit 

 roundish, f to I in. in diameter, with a thick red or yellow skin. 



Native of the southern and central United States ; founded as a species 

 in 1892, but known long before. It has been regarded as a hybrid between 

 P. americana and P. angustifolia, but the fact that it comes true from seed 

 is adverse to that theory. Many varieties of it are cultivated for fruits in the 

 United States, which are especially well adapted for the Mississippi Valley 

 and the southern states. It is unlikely that it will have any economic value 

 in Britain. 



P. HUMILIS, Bunge. CHINESE DWARF CHERRY. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 7335 ; P. Bungei, Walpers.} 



A low-growing, deciduous shrub 4 to 5 ft. high, with downy young 

 branchlets. Leaves oval or obovate with a tapering base, I to 2 ins. long, 

 half as wide, almost smooth except when quite young, finely and doubly 

 toothed ; stalk \ in. long ; stipules J in. long, linear, very glandular. Flowers 

 pale pink, \ in. across ; produced singly, in pairs, or in threes from the buds 

 of the previous year's wood, each on a stalk \ in. long. Fruit bright red, very 

 acid in this country, but not unpalatable, about in. diameter. 



Native of N. China ; introduced to Kew in 1881 by the late Dr 

 Bretschneider. This pretty dwarf cherry, which is cultivated in North China 

 for its fruits, is perfectly hardy. Nearly allied to P. japonica, it may be 

 roughly distinguished by its downy shoots and its leaves being widest above 

 the middle. From P. Jacquemontii, with which it has been confused, its 

 downy shoots also distinguish it. P. Jacquemontii, besides, has laciniated 

 stipules. 



P. ILICIFOLIA, Walpers. 



(Laurocerasus ilicifolia, Roemer.") 



An evergreen shrub of compact habit ; branchlets smooth. Leaves ovate, 

 I to 2 ins. long, f to \\ ins. wide ; rounded or slightly heart-shaped at the 

 base, sharply toothed, the hollows between the teeth wide and rounded, dark 

 glossy green, smooth on both surfaces. Flowers in racemes i^ to 3 ins. long, 

 produced in summer ; each flower \ in. across, white, on a stalk $ in: long. 

 Fruit roundish, but slightly pointed at the end, J in. diameter, changing to' 

 red, then black-purple. 



