VOI,. II.] PLUM FAMILY. 253 



19. Prunus demissa (Nutt.) Walp. Western Wild Cherry. (Fig. 2025.) 



Cerasus demissa Nutt. in T. & G. Fl. N. A. i: 411. 



1840. 



Prunus demissa Walp. Rep. 2: 10. 1843. 



A shrub or small tree, with greatest height of 

 about 30 and trunk diameter of \ l / 2 , but usu- 

 ally much smaller. Leaves similar to those of 

 the preceding species, but thicker, acute or 

 often obtusish at the apex, and with shorter 

 teeth; flowers white, 4 // ~5 // broad; racemes 

 generally dense, short or elongated, densely- 

 flowered, terminating leafy branches; drupe 

 dark purple or black, sweet or but slightly 

 astringent, globose, $"-4" in diameter; stone 

 globular. 



Prairies and dry soil, Dakota to Nebraska and 

 New Mexico, west to British Columbia and Cali- 

 fornia. Wood hard, not strong, light brown; 

 weight per cubic foot 43 Ibs. Perhaps intergrades 

 with the preceding species. May-July. Fruit 

 ripe in August. 



20. Prunus serotina Ehrh. 



Cabinet or Rum Cherry. 



Wild Black Cherry. 

 (Fig. 2026.) 



Prunus serotina Ehrh. Beitr. 3: 20. 1788. 

 Cerasus serotina Lois. Nouv. Duham. 5: 3. 

 1812. 



A large tree, wjth maximum height of 

 about 90 and trunk diameter of 4, the bark 

 rough and black. Leaves thick, oval, oval- 

 lanceolate or ovate, acuminate or acute at 

 the apex, narrowed or rounded at the base, 

 glabrous, or pubescent along the veins be- 

 neath, serrate with appressed callous teeth; 

 flowers similar to those of the two preceding 

 species, the racemes elongated, spreading or 

 drooping, terminating leafy branches, petals 

 obovate; drupe globose, 4 // -5 // in diameter; 

 dark purple or black, sweet but slightly as- 

 tringent. 



In woods or open places, southern Ontario to 

 Florida, Dakota, Kansas and Texas. Wood 

 hard, strong, reddish -brown; weight per cubic 

 foot 36 Ibs; used in cabinet making. May. 

 Fruit ripe Aug.-Sept. 



Prunus serotina Smallii Britton. 

 Cerasus serotina montana Small, Mem. Torr. Club, 4: 114. 1894. Not P. montana Marsh. 1785. 



Leaves firm, coriaceous, coarsely serrate, pale beneath; racemes thick, divergent, rather few- 

 flowered; calyx and filaments pubescent. Summit of White Top Mountain, Virginia. 



2. AMYGDALUS I,. Sp. PI. 472. 1753. 



Trees or shrubs, with mostly lanceolate serrulate short-petioled leaves, and pink or white 

 flowers solitary or clustered at the nodes of the twigs of the preceding season. Petals 

 spreading. Stamens 20-30, distinct, the filaments filiform. Style and stigma as in Prunus. 

 Exocarp of the fruit mostly fleshy, velvety in the following species; endocarp (stone) bony, 

 deeply pitted or nearly smooth, oval or oblong, pointed, more or less compressed. [Name 

 said to be Syrian. ] 



About 5 species, natives of Asia, to which are added by some authors 2 or 3 shrubs (genus 

 Emplectroclados Torr. ) of western North America. 



