BIRD CHERRY: CHERRY LAUREL, ETC. 313 



equally large or even larger flowers, up to 35 mm. diameter, 

 in similar tufts with coloured membranous bracts at the 

 base, and bitter-sweet black-red fruits 12 15 mm. in 

 diameter. Pollen sulphur-yellow, ellipsoid-rounded, 52 //, 

 long, with longitudinal folds and striae. Flowers homo- 

 gamous, offering pollen and honey. 



Flowers in axillary racemes; leaves con- 

 duplicate. 



Jf Racemes lax and pendent; leaves 

 deciduous, with glandular petioles. 



Prunus Padus, L. Bird Cherry (Fig. 127). Small tree, 

 with proterogynous flowers offering pollen and honey. 

 Flowers opening after the foliage, in pendent racemes, 

 small, white, sweet-scented. Fruit as large as a pea, 

 black, bitter-sweet. 



Jf Jf Racemes stiff and erect. Leaves ever- 

 green, the petioles eglandular. 



4- Leaves with glands flanking the mid- 

 rib beloiv. 



Prunus Laurocerasus, L. Cherry Laurel. Flowers 

 small, white, fragrant, in erect slender racemes; offering 

 pollen and honey. Fruit sub-globose, black. 



-f- -r- Leaves devoid of glands. 



Prunus Lusitanica, L., Portugal Laurel, is very similar, 

 but has harder and thinner, darker foliage devoid of glands, 

 and the twigs and petioles purplish. 



OZZ7 Petals pink. Drupe tough and leathery, 

 at length dehiscent; stone relatively soft, 

 much wrinkled. 



Amygdaliis communis, L. Almond. Small tree, with 



