Prunus i 553 



By far the largest on record in England, is mentioned by Mr. E. C. Batten, 1 

 who quotes Dr. Prior for the fact that a common laurel at Fyne Court, Somerset- 

 shire, grew to the height of 72 ft. before it was cut. At Powis Castle I have seen 

 a bush over 40 ft. high with five stems over 4 ft. in girth. It was cultivated at 

 Mill Hill by Collinson about 1750, and I have seen at that place what is supposed to 

 be part of the original plant. 



At Shelton Abbey, Wicklow, there was a magnificent specimen in Loudon's 

 time, which was 45 ft. in height and 6 ft. in girth, at 90 years old. 



The laurel is not hardy in most parts of Germany, and at Karlsruhe suffers 

 much in severe winters ; but at Baden-Baden and Mainau, where the humidity of the 

 air is greater, it succeeds fairly well.' 2 In the United States, it is hardy as far north 

 as Washington, D.C. 3 



The leaves are used in medicine ; and when distilled with water, yield bitter 

 almond oil and prussic acid. 4 The fresh leaves are sometimes used for flavour- 

 ing sweetmeats, custards, creams, etc. ; but should be used with caution, as, on 

 account of their poisonous qualities, they may produce injurious or even fatal 

 effects. 



The wood is, so far as I know, of no value except for firewood. 



(H. J. E.) 



PRUNUS LUSITANICA, Portugal Laurel 



Prunus lusitanica, Linnaeus, Sp. PL 473 (1753). 



Padus lusitanica, Miller, Gard. Diet. ed. 8, No. 5 (1768). 



Padus eg/andu/osa, Moench, Meth. 672 (1794). 



Cerasus lusitanica, Loiseleur, Nouv. Duham. v. 5 (181 2); Loudon, Arb. et Prut. Brit. ii. 714 



(1838). 

 Laurocerasus lusitanica, Roemer, Fam. Nat. Syn. iii. 92 (1847). 



An evergreen tree, attaining occasionally 50 or 60 feet in height, and 6 feet in 

 girth ; often shrubby. Young branchlets glabrous. Leaves persistent two years, 

 coriaceous, but thinner in texture than those of P. Laurocerasus, ovate-oblong, 3 to 4 

 in. long, 1 \ r to 2 in. broad, acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base ; glabrous; 

 above shining, beneath lighter green and without glands ; lateral nerves 8 to 10 

 pairs, dividing and looping before reaching the margin ; regularly serrate, the 

 serrations ending in glandular points ; petiole about f in. long, usually without 

 glands. 



Flowers in racemes, about 4 in. long, arising in the axils of the leaves on the 

 preceding year's shoot ; axis and pedicels glabrous ; calyx wide at the mouth ; 

 sepals irregular, dentate; petals white. Fruit ovoid, with scanty flesh, about 

 in. long. 



' Trans. Eng. Arb. Stt. ii. 221 (1895). a Mitt. Dent. Deiid. Cts. 1908, p. 150. 



3 Rehder, in Bailey, Cycl. Amer. Horl. 1455 (1901). 



4 Cf. Fluckiger and Hanbury, Pharmacographia, 255 (1879). 



