Voi,. II.] 



PLUM FAMILY 



13. Prunus Besseyi Bailey. Western 



Sand Cherry. Bessey's Cherry. 



(Fig. 2019.) 



Prunus Besseyi Bailey, Bull. Cornell Agric. Exp. 

 Sta. 70: 261. 1894. 



A shrub, i-4 high, the branches diffuse, 

 spreading or prostrate, not strict. Leaves ellip- 

 tic, oblong or oval, the teeth appressed, the apex 

 and base mostly acute; petioles 2 // -3 // long; stip- 

 ules of young shoots often longer than the peti- 

 ole; flowers in sessile umbels, expanding with 

 the leaves, 4 // -5 // broad; fruit 6 // -8 // in diameter, 

 on stout pedicels usually not more than 6" long, 

 bitterish and astringent, black, mottled or yel- 

 lowish. 



Prairies, Manitoba and Minnesota to Kansas and 

 Utah. April-May. 



14. Prunus Cerasus L,. Sour Cherry. 

 Egriot. (Fig. 2020.) 



Prunus Cerasus L. Sp. PI. 474. 1753. 



A tree, reaching in cultivation the height of 

 50, with trunk diameter of 3^, but usually 

 smaller. Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, vari- 

 ously dentate, abruptly acute or acuminate at 

 the apex, rounded at the base, glabrous on both 

 sides, very resinous when young; flowers white, 

 8 // -i2 // broad, in sessile, lateral, very scaly um- 

 bels, expanding with the leaves or before them; 

 pedicels little over i%' long in flower; drupe glo- 

 bose, 4 // -6 // in diameter (larger in cultivation), 

 black or red, sour, without bloom; stone globose. 



In woods and thickets, southern New York and 

 Pennsylvania, escaped from cultivation. Native of 

 Europe. Wood strong, reddish-brown; weight per 

 cubic foot 54 Ibs. April-May. Fruit June-July. Its 

 leaves unfold several days later than those of P. 

 A vium when growing with it. This, and the follow- 

 lowing species, in the wild state, are the originals of 

 most of the cultivated cherries. 



15. Prunus Avium L,. Wild or Crab 

 Cherry. Hazard. Gean. Sweet 



Cherry. (Fig. 2021.) 

 Prunus Avium L. Fl. Suec. Ed. 2, 165. 1755. 



A large tree, often 70 high, the trunk reach- 

 ing 4 in diameter. Leaves ovate, oval, or 

 slightly obovate, abruptly short-acuminate at 

 the apex, obtuse or sometimes narrowed at the 

 base, irregularly serrate or doubly serrate, pu- 

 bescent on the veins beneath, or over the entire 

 lower surface when young; flowers white, about 

 i' broad, in scaly lateral umbels, expanding with 

 the leaves; pedicels slender, i / -2^ / long in 

 flower; drupe globose, black or dark red, sweet. 



In thickets and woodlands, escaped from cultiva- 

 tion, Connecticut to Pennsylvania and Virginia. 

 Native of Europe. April-May. 



