Cerasus. ROSACEiE. 



m 



along the midrib underneath, smooth and shining above, finely serrate with incurved callous 

 teeth ; racemes elongated, spreading ; petals broadly obovate ; drupes globose, purplish- 

 black. — Seringe in DC. prodr. 2. p. 540 ; Torr. <^ Gr.jl. N. Am. 1. /j. 410. C. Virginiana, 

 Michx. fl. \. p. 283 ; Michx.fl. sylv. 2. p. 89. t. 88 ; Hook. I. c. (excl. syn.) ; Darlingt. ft. 

 Cest. p. 289. Prunus serotina, Ehrh. beilr. 3. p. 20 ; Willd. arb. t. 5. /. 2, and spec. 2. 

 p. 986 ; Guimp. Otto <^ Hayne, holz. t. 37, not of Pursh, Torr. ^c. P. Virginiana, Nutt. 

 diet. ; Wang. Amer. t. U. f. 3 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 540 ; Torr. fl. I. p. 467 ; Bigel. ft. Bost. 

 p. 192 ; Beck, hot. p. 97 ; 'Darlingt. ft. Cest. p. 289, 



A tree 30-60 feet (in favorable situations 80 feet) high. The heart-wood is a reddish 

 color, hard and very close-grained. Leaves 2-4 inches long, of a deep brilliant green on 

 the upper surface ; the serratures inflexed so abruptly at the point, that they appear rather 

 obtuse. Racemes 3-4 inches long, finally pendulous ; the pedicels about 3-4 lines long. 

 Calyx hemispherical, smooth ; the teeth very short and acute. Fruit about 3 lines in diameter, 

 dark purple or nearly black when mature, bitter and rather nauseous to most persons. 



Woods, shores of rivers, and along fences. Fl. May — June. Fr. August. 



The wood of this tree is employed extensively by cabinet-makers, being nearly as handsome 

 as the inferior kinds of mahogany. The bark is a strong aromatic bitter, and is considered a 

 valuable tonic (See Wood <^ Bache's U. S. Dispens. p. 536). — This synonymy of this and 

 the preceding species has been confounded or transposed by many botanists. The Prunus 

 Virginiana of Linnaeus is undoubtedly the Choke Cherry, but until lately it had generally 

 been considered the Wild Cherry (See the Flora of North America, I. c). 



Suborder II. Rosace^e proper. Torr. Sf Gr. 



Calyx 5-cleft (rarely 3 - 4-cleft), naked, or often with bracteoles alternating 

 with the segments, free from the ovaries. Stamens occasionally few. Ovaries 

 usually several or numerous, rarely solitary, with 1 - 2 or more suspended or 

 ascending ovules, distinct or very rarely combined, sometimes included in the 

 persistent calyx-tube : styles terminal or lateral. Fruit follicular, or consisting 

 of numerous achenia. — Herbs, shrubs or very rarely trees, with simple or 

 compound leaves. 



CONSPECTUS OP THE TRIBES. 



Tribe I. Spireme. Carpels mostly 5 (rarely more, or reduced to 1 or 2), follicular or S-valved in fruit. — Shrubs or small 

 trees, rarely herbs. 



Tribe 11. DBYiiDE^E. Achenia or little drupes, either few or solitary; or numerous, and then crowded on a hemispheri- 

 cal torus. — Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees. 



Tribe III. RosEa;. Achenia numerous, inserted on the inner surface of the disk or hollow torus that lines the urn-shaped 

 calyx-tube. — Shrubby and prickly plants, with pinnated leaves. 



