ROSE FAMILY. 147 



more or less glossy bark ; flowers usually borne in dense clusters on 

 lateral spurs, and appearing with the hairy conduplicate young leaves, 

 the persistent bud-scales large ; leaves mostly oblong-ovate and gradually 

 taper-pointed, dull and soft, hanging limp upon the young growths, 

 Birch-like in aspect; fruit sweet (or sometimes sour, as in May Duke), 

 yellow or red, often pointed. Eu. Often escaped into woods. 



** ++ Flower-clusters borne on the ends of the branches. 



P. Mahdieb, Linn. Mahaleb Cherry. Slender small tree, with small, 

 fragrant flowers in terminal, umbel-like clusters ; leaves bright green, 

 broadly ovate or round-ovate and more or less heart-shaped, the point 

 short, smooth and veiny, the margins finely and obtusely serrate ; fruits 

 very small, dark red, austere. Used for stocks upon which to propagate 

 cherries, and occasionally running wild. S. Eu. 



-t- -I- -1- Native, very rarely cultivated. 



P. Pennsylv^nica. Linn. Wild Red, Bird, or Pin Cherry. Rocky 

 woods X. ; small tree, with light, red-brown bark ; oblong-lanceolate and 

 pointed leaves, smooth and green both sides, their margins finely and 

 sharply serrate ; small flowers on long pedicels ; and light, red, sour fruit, 

 not larger than peas. 



§ 5. Racemed Cherries. Flowers small, in distinct racemes. 



■t- Drooping racemes in late spring or early .summer, terminating leafy 



shoots of the season. 



P. serdtina, Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry. Tree or shrub, westward 

 becoming a good-sized forest tree, with bitter aromatic bark, close-grained 

 reddish wood valued by the cabinet-maker ; the oblong or lance-oblong 

 shining leaves of thickish or firm texture, usually taper-pointed, serrate, 

 with incurved, short, callous teeth ; flowers in long racemes, considerably 

 later than the next ; purplish-black, bitterish, vinous fruit, ripening in 

 autumn or late summer. 



P. Virginislna, Linn. Choke Cherry. Tall shrub or small tree, with 

 grayish bark, oval-oblong or obovate and abruptly pointed thin leaves, 

 very sharply serrate with slender projecting teeth ; flowers in shorter 

 and closer racemes, in spring ; the fruit ripe in summer, red, turning 

 dark crimson ; astringent, but edible when fully ripe ; the stone smooth. 



P. Pddus, Linn. Small Bird Cherry of Eu., is occasionally planted ; 

 resembles the last ; has longer and looser, often drooping racemes, which 

 are a week later and usually more leafy, and a roughened stone. 



t- •<- Erect racemes in early spring, from the axils of evergreen leaves. 



P. Carolini^na, Ait. Carolina Laurel Cherry, also called Mock 

 Orange at the South, probably from the coriaceous, smooth, and glossy 

 leaves, which are lance-ovate or oblong, entire or with a few sharp and 

 appressed teeth, longer than the racemes, the calyx as well as petals 

 white ; small fruit, black and bitter, becoming dry. Ornamental small tree. 



2. SPIRJBA, SPIR^A, MEADOWSWEET, etc. (Greek: twist, 

 referring to a peculiarity of the pods of one species.) All hardy shrubs 

 or perennial herbs ; flower late spring and summer. 



§ 1. Shrubs, loith simple leaves. 



* Native species, but the last common in gardens. 



S. betulif61ia, Pall., van corymbdsa, Wats. From S. Penn. S. and 

 W., not common ; shrub l°-'2° high, smooth, with oval leaves, cut-toothed 

 towards the apex ; and white flowers, in a flat, compound corymb. 



