Handbook of Treks of the IS'ortiii 



S'lA'iKS AND Canada. 267 



Tho Pigeon Cherry is a small, handsome tree 

 occasionally attaining the height of- 30 or 40 

 ft. and 10 or 12 in. in diameter of trunk, but 

 is usually much smaller. It develops a rather 

 narrow oblong top with slender upright 

 branches. The bark of smaller trunks and 

 branches is lustrous and of a rich wine color 

 marked with prominent band-like lenticels and 

 peeling off in horizontal strips. Few trees of 

 northern regions equal it in beauty in early 

 May, when each branchlet becomes a garland 

 of delicate white flowers and tender bright 

 green leaves, or in mid-summer when its flow- 

 ers are succeeded by an abundance of small 

 briglit red translucent long-stemmed cherries. 



It inhabits dry sandy soil, coming up in 

 abundance from seeds scattered by the birds 

 on forest tracks recently denuded by fires. 

 Here, offering shade and shelter for the more 

 tender seedlings of other and more useful trees. 

 it vies with the Quaking Asp in hastening re- 

 forestation. And then, as though its mission 

 ended there, it dies as soon as its nurselings 

 surpass it in size and really need the space 

 it occupies. 



The wood is rather light, a cubic foot weigh- 

 ing 31.30 lbs., soft and very close-grained but 

 of little commercial importance. i 



Lrarrs oblong-lanceolate, mostly rounded at 

 base and acuminate at apex, finely un(>(|ually ser- 

 rato. slightly viscid when youns. smooth both 

 sides at maturity, shinini;- srccn above, palm- be 

 neath : pedicels slender, glandular above. Flo avis 

 about 1/2 in. across in lateral 4-ri-tlowered umbels 

 or corymbs with long pedicels. Fruit subglobose. 

 about V4 in. in diameter, light red. translucent, 

 with very tart iuicy flesh and oblong slightly com- 

 pressed stone about .3-lG in. lony. 



1. A. W., Ill, 55. 



