PRUNUS 



Prunus, Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 473 (1753), and Gen. PL 212 (1754); Bentham et Hooker, Gen. PI. i. 

 609 (1865). 



Trees or shrubs, belonging to the order Rosaceae. Leaves alternate, simple ; 

 usually serrate with or without glandular points to the serrations, rarely entire ; 

 petiole often with one or more glands. 



Flowers perfect ; solitary, or in fascicles, corymbs, or racemes ; calyx-tube cup- 

 shaped or tubular ; sepals five, imbricated in the bud ; petals five, white or pink ; 

 stamens ten to thirty, perigynous, inserted with the petals on the mouth of the calyx- 

 tube ; ovary one-celled, with a terminal style, and containing two pendulous ovules. 

 Fruit, a fleshy drupe, with an indehiscent, one-seeded, smooth or rugged stone. 



This genus comprises over one hundred species, mostly natives of the temperate 

 regions of the northern hemisphere, a few being indigenous in tropical Asia and 

 tropical America. 



In the following article, only a few species, mainly of interest to foresters, are 

 dealt with. These may be arranged as follows : 



Section I. Cerasus. Cherries. 



Leaves rolled up in the bud. Flowers large, long-stalked, usually fascicled 

 or in corymbs. 



1. Prunus Avium, Linnaeus. Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus. Seep. 1535. 



Large tree. Leaves variable in shape, cuspidate-acuminate, with scattered 

 long hairs on the midrib and nerves beneath. Branchlets glabrous. Inflor- 

 escence not leafy at the base. 



2. Prunus Cerasus, Linnaeus. Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus. Seep. 1541. 



Small tree or shrub. Leaves smaller than, but similar in shape to P. 

 Avium, nearly glabrous beneath. Branchlets glabrous. Inflorescence with 

 leaves at the base. 



3. Prunus Mahaleb, Linnaeus. Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Armenia, 



Turkestan. See p. 1542. 



Small tree. Leaves broadly ovate, pubescent on each side of the midrib 

 beneath. Branchlets densely pubescent. 



Section II. Padus. Bird Cherries. 



Deciduous trees or shrubs. Leaves rolled up in the bud. Flowers small 

 in long racemes, which are leafy at the base. 



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