ROSE FAMILY. 147 



more or less glossy bark ; flowers usually borne in dense clusters on 

 lateral spurs, and appearing with the hairy conduplicate young leaves, 

 the persistent bud-scales large ; leaves mostly oblong-ovate and gradually 

 taper-pointed, dull and soft, hanging limp upon the young growths, 

 Birch- like in aspect; fruit sweet (or sometimes sour, as in May Duke), 

 yellow or red, often pointed. Eu. Often escaped into woods. 



*-). .w. Flower-clusters borne on the ends of the branches. 



P. Mah&leb, Linn. MAHALEB CHERRY. Slender small tree, with small, 

 fragrant flowers in terminal, umbel-like clusters ; leaves bright green, 

 broadly ovate or round-ovate and more or less heart-shaped, the point 

 short, smooth and veiny, the margins finely and obtusely serrate ; fruits 

 very small, dark red, austere. Used for stocks upon which to propagate 

 cherries, and occasionally running wild. S. Eu. 



*-!--- Native, very rarely cultivated. 



P. Fennsylvanica, Linn. WILD RED, BIRD, or PIN CHERRY. Rocky 

 woods N. j small tree, with light, red-brown bark ; oblong-lanceolate and 

 pointed leaves, smooth and green both sides, their margins finely and 

 sharply serrate ; small flowers on long pedicels ; and light, red, sour fruit, 

 not larger than peas. 



5. RACEMED CHERRIES. Flowers small, in distinct racemes. 



i- Drooping racemes in late spring or early summer, terminating leafy 

 shoots of the season. 



P. serdtina, Ehrh. WILD BLACK CHERRY. Tree or shrub, westward 

 becoming a good-sized forest tree, with bitter aromatic bark, close-grained 

 reddish wood valued by the cabinet-maker ; the oblong or lance-oblong 

 shining leaves of thickish or firm texture, usually taper-pointed, serrate, 

 with incurved, short, callous teeth ; flowers in long racemes, considerably 

 later than the next ; purplish-black, bitterish, vinous fruit, ripening hi 

 autumn or late summer. 



P. Virginiana, Linn. CHOKE CHERRY. Tall shrub or small tree, with 

 grayish bark, oval-oblong or obovate and abruptly pointed thin leaves, 

 very sharply serrate with slender projecting teeth; flowers in shorter 

 and closer racemes, in spring ; the fruit ripe in summer, red, turning 

 dark crimson ; astringent, but edible when fully ripe ; the stone smooth. 



P. Padus, Linn. SMALL BIRD CHERRY of Eu., is occasionally planted ; 

 resembles the last ; has longer and looser, often drooping racemes, which 

 are a week later and usually more leafy, and a roughened stone. 



-- *- Erect racemes in early spring, from the axils of evergreen leaves. 



P. Caroliniana, Ait. CAROLINA LAUREL CHERRY, also called MOCK 

 ORANGE at the South, probably from the coriaceous, smooth, and glossy 

 leaves, which are lance-ovate or oblong, entire or with a few sharp and 

 appressed teeth, longer than the racemes, the calyx as well as petals 

 white ; small fruit, black and bitter, becoming dry. Ornamental small tree. 



2. SFIR-S3A, SPIRJEA, MEADOWSWEET, etc. (Greek: twist, 

 referring to a peculiarity of the pods of one species.) All hardy shrubs 

 or perennial herbs ; flower late spring and summer. 



1. Shrubs, with simple leaves. 

 * Native species, but the last common in gardens. 



B. betulifdlia, Pall., var. corymb6sa, Wats. From S. Penn. S. and 

 W., not common ; shrub l-2 high, smooth, with oval leaves, cut-toothed 

 towards the apex ; and white flowers, in a flat, compound corymb. 



