Handbook of Trees of the j^oktiiekn States and Canada. 



279 



The Mahaleb. Perfumed or St. Lucie Cherry 

 properly deserves i;s iiiune, " IVrfuiiud " 

 Cherry, as it lias fni-iaiil fulia^^e as well as 

 fragrant Uowers, and its seeds, too, are 

 fragrant, and so is its wood. it is a 

 small tree soiiietiiiies attaining the height 

 of 20 to 25 ft., with i;itluT irregular ohlong 

 or rounded top of short lateral branches and 

 usually cnidked or inclined trunk S- 10 in. in 

 diameter. This is vcstid in a dark gray or 

 brownish bark, rough with low irregular 

 ridges and appresscd scales. It is a native 

 of middle and southern Europe and the Cau- 

 casus, whence it is extensively imported into 

 the United States as a valuable stock on which 

 to graft garden cherries and has become natu- 

 ralized in localities. Its small fruit is too 

 austere and bitter to be edible, but it yields 

 a violet dye and a fermented liquor is made 

 from it resembling Kirschvvasser. The seeds 

 possess an agreeable flavor and odor, and a 

 fixed oil expressed from them is used in per- 

 fumery and among the Arabs is valued as a 

 remedy against calculus in the bladder. 



The wood is heavj', hard, close-grained, of a 

 dark reddish color and fragrant. It is known 

 in Europe as the wood of St. Lucie and i^ 

 valued by calniict-niakers and \>y the manufac 

 turers of tobacco pi|)cs and other small articles 

 of wooden-ware. The small rigid stems arc 

 used for the stems of tobacco-pipes, walking 

 sticks, etc. Though a very interesting tree it 

 is not commonly planted for ornamental pur 

 poses in America and little use is made of i 

 here except as stocks for grafting purposes. 



Leans l)road-ovato to orbicular, mostly 1-2 in. 

 ions, rounded or slightly cordate at base, al) 

 ruptly acute at apex, finely crcnate-serrate. firm, 

 glaucous and fragrant : petioles slender, teroto. 

 FloHcrs May-.Tuno, sma-ll, scarcely Vj in. across, 

 white, fragrant and in umbels terminating short 

 lateral branchlots. Fniit ripening in ,Tnly, suh- 

 globose, ':. in. in diameter, very dark rod, with 

 thin bitter flesh and slightly flattened pit. 



