PRUNUS 243 



be in clusters, owing to the crowded buds ; flower-stalks ^ in. long, downy. 

 Calyx downy, funnel-shaped, with five rounded, oblong lobes. Fruit red or 

 purple, round or oblong, i to I in. in diameter. A yellow-fruited variety (FRUCTU- 

 LUTEO) is also cultivated. 



Native of the eastern United States, frequently inhabiting sandy or 

 gravelly places near the coast. Its fruits are gathered for preserving there, 

 but they appear to vary in quality and sweetness. The flowers are borne 

 profusely in this country, and the species is one of the most attractive of 

 dwarf plums. Judging by its hardy, robust constitution, and by its natural 

 habitats, it ought to succeed in exposed maritime localities in Britain. 



P. MAXIMOWICZII, Ruprecht. 



(Garden and Forest, vi., p. 195.) 



A deciduous tree up to 20 or 30 ft. high, with a slender trunk ; branchlets 

 downy, the down persisting through the first winter. Leaves ovate or oval, 

 pointed, rounded to cuneate at the base; i^ to 3 ins. long, to i ins. wide; 

 doubly toothed, downy on the midrib and veins beneath, and with scattered 

 hairs above ; stalk \ to in. long, downy. Flowers rather dull yellowish 

 white, about f in. across, produced in mid-May on stalked racemes 2 to 3^ ins. 

 long, remarkable forv the large leaf-like bracts with which they are furnished ; 

 from six to ten flowers occur on a raceme, each flower on a downy stalk \ to 

 I in. long ; calyx hairy, with pointed, toothed lobes. Fruit globose, \ in. 

 wide, shining, at first red, then black ; ripe in August. 



Native of Corea, Manchuria, and Japan ; introduced by Sargent to the 

 United States in 1892, and by him sent to Kew in 1895. The tree is 

 interesting and very distinct among cherries because of the conspicuous 

 bracts on the inflorescence, which remain until the fruit is ripe ; but neither in 

 flower nor fruit is it particularly attractive as cherries go. For its autumn 

 colouring it may prove valuable, as it turns a brilliant scarlet both in Japan and 

 N. America. It is very hardy. 



P. MICROCARPA, C. A. Meyer. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 8360 ; Cerasus tortuosa, Boissjer.} 



A deciduous bush, 3 or 4 ft. high, of sturdy habit, with stiff, short-jointed 

 branches and downy branchlets. Leaves broadly ovate, with a rounded 

 base and acute apex, to I in. long, nearly as much wide, coarsely and 

 sharply toothed, with a few scattered hairs when young beneath ; stalk 

 to in. long. Flowers produced in spring in clusters of two or three, from 

 buds and spurs of older branches, each on a downy stalk ^ in. long ; the 

 petals are rosy pink, the calyx cylindrical and smooth. Fruit of ovate outline, 

 nearly ^ in. long, red or yellow. 



Native of Asia Minor ; introduced to Kew in 1890. It is a pretty little 

 shrub (a cherry) requiring the sunniest position available. In a wild state 

 it is rather variable in the amount of down on the younger parts, in stature, 

 and in the rigidity or otherwise of its habit. The most downy form has 

 been distinguished under the name TORTUOSA, the pubescence being associated 

 with a tortuous growth. Both these characters are believed to depend on 

 climate and environment. 



P. SUBHIRTELLA var. AUTUMNALIS, Makino. 

 (P. microlepsis of our 1st Ed. ; P. Miqueliana, Hort. (not Maximowicz).) 



A deciduous, small tree ; young shoots hairy. Leaves ovate to ovate- 

 lanceolate, rounded at the base, terminated by a long slender point ; margins 



