252 



DRUPACEAE. 



[VOL. II. 



16. Prunus Pennsylvania L,. f. Wild 



Red Cherry. Pin or Pigeon 



Cherry. (Fig. 2022.) 



Prunus Pennsylvania L. f. Suppl. 252. 1781. 

 Cerasus Pennsylvanica Lois. Nouv. Duham. 5: 9. 

 1812. 



A small tree, with maximum height of about 

 35, and trunk diameter of ij4, sometimes 

 shrubby. Leaves oval or lanceolate, acute or 

 acuminate at the apex, mainly rounded at the 

 base, glabrous and shining on both sides, serru- 

 late, rather slender-petioled; flowers white, in 

 lateral, corymbose, peduncled or sessile leafless 

 clusters, unfolding with the leaves; pedi- 

 cels slender, glabrous, 6 // -i2 // long; drupe glo- 

 bose, red, 2"-3" in diameter, without bloom, 

 its flesh thin and sour, its stone globular. 



In rocky woods, and clearings, Newfoundland to 

 Georgia, west to the Rocky Mountains. Wood soft, 

 light brown; weight per cubic foot 31 Ibs. April- 

 June. Fruit ripe in August 



17. Prunus Mahaleb L. Mahaleb. 

 Perfumed Cherry. (Fig. 2023.) 



Prunus Mahaleb L. Sp. PI. 474. 1753. 

 Cerasus Mahaleb Mill. Card. Diet. Ed. 8, no. 4. 



1768. 



A small tree or shrub, with maximum 

 height of about 25 and trunk diameter of 

 i, generally flowering when but a few years 

 old. Bark pale, smooth; leaves petioled, 

 ovate, abruptly acute at the apex, rounded or 

 slightly cordate at the base, glabrous on both 

 sides, denticulate, fragrant; flowers white, 

 about 5" broad, in corymbs borne on short 

 leafy branches of the season, unfolding with 

 the leaves; drupe reddish-black, globose or 

 globose-ovoid, about 4" long, the flesh thin, 

 the stone slightly flattened. 



Roadsides and waste places, southern New 

 York and eastern Pennsylvania, becoming fre- 

 quent. Adventive from Europe. Wood hard, 

 brown. Used in Europe for cabinet making. 

 April-May. Fruit ripe July. 



18. Prunus Virginiana L. Choke 

 , Cherry. (Fig. 2024.) 



Prunus Virginiana L. Sp. PI. 473- *7S3- 

 Cerasus Virginiana Lois. Nouv. Duham. 5: 3. 1812. 



A shrub, 2-io high, or rarely a small tree, 

 with gray bark. Leaves thin, obovate or broadly 

 oval, abruptly acute or acuminate at the apex, 

 rounded at the base, glabrous, or slightly pubes- 

 cent along the veins beneath, sharply or doubly 

 serrulate with slender teeth; petioles with sev- 

 eral glands; flowers white, 4 // -5 // broad, in erect 

 or spreading mainly loosely- flowered racemes, 

 terminating leafy branches of the season; petals 

 suborbicular; pedicels 2 // ~3 // long, drupe red to 

 nearly black, rarely yellow, globose, 4 // ~5 // i n 

 diameter, very astringent; stone globular. 



Along river-banks and in rocky situations, New- 

 foundland to Manitoba and British Columbia, south 

 to Georgia, Nebraska, Texas and Colorado. April- 

 May. Fruit ripe in July or August. 



