82. PRUNUS CEKASCS SOUR CHERRY, GARDEN CHERRY 23 



umbels, with thick short peduncles and slender pedicels from $ to f in. in length ; 

 calyx with tube glabrous within and the narrow acute lobes, glandular-serrate; petals 

 white, with short claw. Fruit (ripe in August or September) oblong-oval, 1 in. or 

 slightly more in length, somewhat flattened, with a conspicuous suture, tough, red 

 and yellow skin, yellowish, juicy flesh, and nearly oval compressed thick -shelled 

 stone, about 1 in. length. 



A small tree sometimes attaining 30 ft. (9 m.) in hight and 8 or 10 in. 

 (0. 25 m.) in diameter of trunk, with rigid crooked branches furnished 

 with stiff lateral branchlets which bear leaves at first, but then many 

 persist as thick stout spurs. The bark of trunk is of a light-gray color, 

 exfoliating in irregular thick or papery scales. 



HABITAT. The native range is supposed to be Newfoundland and 

 westward through the valley of the Saint Lawrence river and great lakes 

 to Manitoba, but it is planted, and doubtless in some places naturalized 

 outside of this range. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, strong, close-grained, with 

 numerous thin medullary rays, and of a rich reddish brown color, and 

 when freshly cut often bright purple-red, with thin brownish white sap- 

 wood. 



USES. The fruit of the Canada plum is, though quite variable in 

 quality, valuable both as a fresh fruit and for preserves, etc. By selec- 

 tion and cultivation several choice and popular plums have had their 

 origin in this species. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. The fruit is laxative, and the bark, though 

 not mentioned in the pharmacopeia, doubtless possesses the tonic prop- 

 erties found in other representatives of the genus. 



XOTE. The validity of this species is not wholly without question. 

 It was first described by Alton, but subsequently botanists were disposed 

 to consider it as identical with P. Americana. It was so considered by 

 Dr. Gray, and hence not given a place in his Manual. Prof. Sargent, 

 however, is disposed to revive the species and has given it a place in his 

 Silva of North America, but the characters with which he distinguishes 

 it from the P. Americana seem so inconstant as to be hardly relied 

 upon, intermediate forms of various grades being often found. 



82. PRUNUS CERASUS, L. 

 SOUR CHERRY, GARDEN CHERRY. 



Ger., Gemei ner Kirslibauin ; Fr. , Cerise aigre ; Sp., Cereza agria. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. Leaves spreading, obovate to ovate-lanceolate, crenate- 

 serrate, acute at apex, narrowed at base, glabrous, 3 to 5 in. in length; petioles short, 

 scarcely 1 in. in length. Flowers in early spring with the leaves, in few-flowered 

 umbels from lateral scaly buds; petals white, suberect and firm. Fruit a rather large 

 globose drupe, of acid or subacid vinous flavor and smooth free pit. 



