ROSE FAMILY 



(Rosacece) 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate leaves, simple or com- 

 pound, and usually stipules. Stamens generally numerous: 

 these and the petals inserted on the calyx. 



ISLAY. WILD CHERRY (Primus ilicifolia, Walp.). Flow- 

 ers white, in rather dense axillary racemes 1 to 3 inches long. 

 Leaves glossy, leathery and spiny-toothed, suggesting the holly 

 foliage. An evergreen shrub or small tree, blooming in May 

 or June, in the chaparral belt and canons of the mountains. 

 Central and Southern California, and western Arizona. 



The cherry part of Prunus ilicifolia is a surprise. It ripens 

 in the autumn and is a dark red drupe, half an inch or so 

 in diameter, that looks very tempting, but proves to be almost 

 all stone. The thin covering of pulp, however, is really very 

 palatable and sweet when thoroughly mature. The Indians, 

 whose patient observation and experimentation got good out 

 of many an unpromising subject, found the stones of great 

 value. Breaking them open, the large kernels were crushed 

 in mortars, leached of their bitterness and boiled. The result 

 was a nutritious mush. Islay is pronounced is-lah'-ee . 

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