Prunus. - ROSACEA. 195 



var. 2 : leaves, when old, nearly smooth on both sides ; fruit smaller. Torr. 4- Gr. I. c. 

 P. pygmaea, Willd. sp. 2. p. 993, and enum. 1. p. 518. P. acuminata, Michx. I. c. Cerasus 

 pygmaea, Loisel. ; DC. I. c. ? 



A shrub 2-5 feet high, in exposed situations sometimes almost prostrate. Leaves 2-3 

 inches long, of a firm texture when old; sometimes (particularly in var. 1.) without an 

 acumination, or even obtuse : petioles about one-third of an inch long, pubescent. Flowers 

 very numerous, appearing just before the leaves unfold ; the umbels usually 2 - 3-flowered : 

 pedicels three-fourths of an inch long. Calyx pubescent. Fruit usually purple, but some- 

 times crimson ; in the first variety, often an inch in diameter, and somewhat oval, but often 

 much smaller and globose on the same plant ; in the second variety, they are always small 

 (the size of a small cherry). 



The first variety is abundant on the sea-beach of Long Island ; the other grows in sandy 

 fields and woods, not far from the salt water. Fl. April - May. Fr. September. When 

 fully ripe, and growing in exposed situations, particularly on the sides of sand-banks, the fruit 

 is agreeably flavored ; but much of it is acerb and astringent. It is sometimes sold in the 

 New-York market under the name of Beach Plum. 



2. CERASUS. Juss. ; DC. prodr. 2. p. 535. CHERRY. 



[Cerasus is the name of an Asiatic town, whence the Cherry-tree is said to have been introduced into Europe.] 



Flowers as in Prunus. Drupe globose, destitute of bloom ; the stone mostly globose and 

 smooth (not sulcate on the margins). — Trees or shrubs. Leaves conduplicate in vernation. 



§ 1. EucERASus, Torr. & Gr. Flowers from latiral leafless buds, appearing before or with the 

 leaves : pedicels in umbellate fascicles, or corymbose. 



1. Cerasus pumila, Michx. Sand Cherry. 



Stem depressed or prostrate ; leaves oblanceolate, obovate-lanceolate or sometimes oval, 

 acute or obtuse, slightly and sparingly serrate, smooth, whitish underneath ; umbels sessile, 

 few-flowered ; drupes ovoid. — Michx. Jl. I. p. 286 ; Seringe in DC. prodr. 2. p. 537 ; Hook, 

 fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 168. C. depressa, Seringe, I. c. ; Hook. I. c. Prunus pumila, Linn. mant. 

 p. lb ; Willd. sp. 2. p. 990 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 538 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 470 ; " Guimp. Otto 4- 

 Hayne, holz. t. 119." P. depressa, Pursh, I. c. ; Bigel. fl. Bost.p. 192. P. Susquehannae, 

 Willd. enum. 1. p. 519. 



Stem trailing, 2-3 feet long, with ascending branches. Leaves 1-3 inches long, and 

 usually about half an inch broad. Umbels appearing with the young leaves, about 4-flowered. 

 Pedicels smooth, short. Fruit small, dark red, eatable. 



Sandy and rocky shores ; Highlands of New- York : rare. Shores of Lake Champlain 

 {Bigelow). Near Troy {Dr. Wright and Prof. J. Hall). Fl. May. 



25* 



