502 The Wild Cherries 



both surfaces; the leaf-stalk is slender, i to 2 cm. long. The flowers, which are i 

 cm. across, appear with the leaves, on short, leafy branches of the current season, 

 in several-flowered umbels; they are borne on stout pedicels; the calyx-tube is top- 

 shaped, its lobes ovate; the petals are white, obovate, about 5 mm. long. The fruit 

 is globose or globose-ovoid, about 8 mm. in diameter, reddish black and shining. 

 The flesh is thin, hard and bitter, the stone small, globose, slightly flattened. 



The Mahaleb is distinctly fragrant in all its parts, and consequently used in 

 the manufacture of all sorts of ornaments, especially by the French, who also use 

 it largely for perfumer}'. The favorite Weichsel smoking pipes and pipe stems, 

 umbrella handles, small boxes, and other trinkets, are made from the stems and 

 roots of this tree. The wood is a favorite for cabinet work; it is hard, dark brown, 

 and takes a fine polish; its specific gravity is about 0.94. 



As an ornamental tree or shrub it is highly appreciated in Europe, but is seldom 

 seen, as such, in our area, where its introduction was due to the fact that it is a 

 favorite of the nuser}^men as a stock upon which to graft other kinds of cherries or 

 plums. 



IV. THE WILD CHERRIES 



GENUS PADUS BORCKHAUSEN 



?]ADUS includes about 1 5 species of trees or shrubs, natives of the northern 

 hemisphere. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple, usually 

 toothed and stalked, the stipules early deciduous, the accrescent bud 

 scales very prominent. The flowers are numerous and borne in ter- 

 minal racemes on young leafy branches of the season's growth, appearing after 

 the leaves; the calyx- tube is usually bell-shaped, with 5 short lobes; petals white, 

 inserted in the throat of the calyx; the 15 to 20 stamens distinct; style simple, 

 terminated by the flattish stigma; o\ailes pendulous, 2 in number. The drupe is 

 fleshy, small, smooth, and contains a solitary seed. 



The type of the genus is the European bird cherry, Prunus Padus Linnaeus, 

 Padus being its old Greek name. By the Germans it is aptly designated Grape 

 cherr}^ It is sometimes cultivated in America for its early flowering and showy 

 black fruit, which is much eaten by birds. It has escaped from cultivation at 

 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 



Our arborescent species are: 



Sepals deciduous; teeth of the leaves slender; small trees or shrubs. 



Fruit very astringent; leaves thin, smooth; eastern. i. P. virginiana. 



Fruit sweet or but little astringent; leaves thick; western. 

 Leaves smooth. 2. P. melanocarpa. 



Leaves hair\' beneath. 3. P. demissa. 



Sepals persistent; teeth of the leaves relatively coarse. 

 Smooth throughout. 



Sepals deltoid, broader than long; leaves delicately reticulate veined. 4. P. eximia. 

 Sepals ovate, longer than broad; leaves not reticulate veined. 5. P. serotina. 



