164 ROSE FAMILY 



2. Flowers double Flowering almonds and plums 



a. Leaves lanceolate, flowers 2-3 cm. broad P. japonica 



b. Leaves ovate, mostly 3-lobed, flowers 3-5 cm. 



broad P. triloba 



Prunus virginiana Linne 1753 Choke Cherry 



A tall shrub or a small tree 1-3 meters (3-10 ft.) high, with grayish- 

 brown bark, the inner layers of which have strong, disagreeable odor ; 

 leaves oval, oblong, or obovate, rounded at the base, abruptly acute or 

 acuminate at the apex, sharply serrate with slender teeth, glabrous or 

 slightly pubescent along the veins beneath, thin, 4-8 cm. long, 2-4.5 cm. 

 wide; petiole 1-1.5 cm. long, with 1 or 2 glands; racemes erect or spread- 

 ing, terminating the leafy shoots of the season, 5-12 cm. long, many- 

 flowered, flowers white, strong scented, 0.8-1 cm. broad; pedicels 4-6 mm. 

 long; fruit red or nearly black, 8-10 mm. in diameter, very astringent, 

 stone globular : virginiana, Virginian. 



Common throughout the state. Distributed from Newfoundland to 

 Ga. and westward to Minn, and British Columbia. 



The fruit is sometimes used for making wine and preserves; it was 

 formerly an important article of food among the North American Indians. 

 The wood is heavy, hard and close grained, light brown in color and 

 weighs 40 lbs. per cubic foot. Flowers in May, fruit ripe July and August. 



Prunus serotina Ehrhart 1788 Wild Black Cherry, Cabinet or 



Rum Cherry 



A large forest tree, 12-25 meters (36-75 ft.) high and 2-5 dm. (7-22 

 inches) in diameter, (in more southern localities reaching much greater 

 dimensions) ; bark dark brown, very rough and peeling off in flakes 

 branches reddish brown, inner bark fragrant; leaves oblong or lanceolate- 

 oblong, round or narrowed at the base, long pointed at the apex, shining 

 above, glabrous or pubescent along the veins beneath, serrate with ap- 

 pressed callous teeth, 4-12 cm. long, 2.5-3.5 cm. wide; petioles 2-3 cm. 

 long; racemes at the ends of leafy shoots, spreading or drooping, flowers 

 numerous, white, 8-10 mm. broad; fruit rounded, 8-10 mm. in diameter, 

 dark purple or black, slightly astringent, but with sweetish taste : 

 serotina, late ripe. 



Rather common throughout the hardwood region of the state. Dis- 

 tributed from Nova Scotia to Fla., west to Dakota, Arizona, and along 

 the mountains of Mexico, Central America and Peru. 



