DKUPACEAE. 525 



and sharply serrate, rounded at the base, pubescent beneath even when old ; flow- 

 ers white, numerous, in lateral umbels, expanding before the leaves, 10-16 mm. 

 broad ; petals obovate; drupe globose, purple, 1.5-2.5 cm. in diameter, sweet, 

 covered with a bloom; stone little flattened, acute on one margin, slightly grooved 

 on the other. On seabeaches and in sandy soil near the coast, Va. to N. B. 

 April-May. Fruit ripe in Sept. or Oct. 



8. Primus Gravesii Small. GRAVES' BEACH PLUM. (I. P\ f. 2014.) A low 

 shrub, reaching a maximum height of about 1.3 m., not thorny, the twigs of the 

 season mostly puberulent. Leaves orbicular, oval-orbicular, or slightly obovate, 

 1.6-3 cm - l n g- rounded, retuse or apiculate at the apex, obtuse or truncate at the 

 base, pubescent, at least on the nerves beneath ; flowers about 12 mm. broad, soli- 

 tary or 2-3 together in lateral umbels, expanding with the leaves; petals subor- 

 bicular; drupj globose, 10 16 mm. in diameter, nearly black, with a light blue 

 bloom; stone nearly as thick as wide, pointed only at the base. On a gravellv 

 ridge, Groton, Conn. May-June. Fruit ripe in Sept. 



9. Prunus gracilis Engelm. & Gray. Low PLUM. (I. F. f. 2015.) A shrub, 

 3-12 dm. high, the foliage and young twigs densely soft-pubescent. Leaves short- 

 petioled, ovate- lanceolate or oval, acute or acutish at both ends, sharply serrate, 

 glabrate on the upper surface at maturity; flowers 6-8 mm. broad, in lateral um- 

 bels, appearing before the leaves; pedicels slender, pubescent; drupe oval-globose, 

 8-io mm. in diameter; stone little flattened, nearly orbicular. In sandy or dry 

 soil, Tenn. to Kans. and Tex. 



10. Prunus spiaosa L. SLOE. BLACKTHORN. BUCKTHORN. (I. F. f. 

 2016.) A shrub with thorny branches, 0.6-5 m - high- Leaves ovate or oblong, 

 obtuse at the apex, serrate, nearly glabrous when mature; flowers white, 8-12 mm. 

 broad, appearing before the leaves, the lateral clusters only i-2-flowered; drupe 

 ovoid-globose, nearly black with a bloom, about 12 mm. in diameter ; stone little 

 flattened, acute on one edge. Along roadsides, etc., Penn. and N. J. to Mass. 

 Nat. or adv. from Europe. April-May. {Prunus spinosa insitttia A. Gray.] 



n. Prunus pumila L. SAND CHERRY. DWARF CHERRY. (I. F. f. 2017.) 

 Much branched from the base, sometimes bushy, 0.2-2 m. high. Leaves mostly 

 ob'.anceolate or spatulate, acute or a mtish, narrowed at the base, serrate, especially 

 toward the apex, usually pale beneath and deep green above, glabrous or very 

 nearly so on both sides when mature; flowers 8-10 mm. broad, appearing with the 

 leaves in sessile lateral umbels ; drupe 8-12 mm. in diameter, dark red or nearly 

 black when mature without bloom; flesh thin, acid. On sandy or gravelly shores, 

 N. B. to Manitoba, N. J. and Mich. April-May. Fruit ripe in August. 



12 Prunus cuneata Raf. APPALACHIAN CHERRY. (I. F. f. 2018.) An 

 erect shrub, 3-12 dm. high, the branches light-colored. Leaves oval, oblong or 

 obovate, obtuse or sometimes acute at the apex, narrowed or wedge-shaped at the 

 base, serrate with rather appressed teeth, rather thin, 2-8 cm. long; flowers in um- 

 bels, appearing with the leaves, about I cm. broad; drupe globose, 8-10 mm. in 

 diameter. In wet soil, or among rocks, N. H. to Minn. , N. Car. and Wis. 



13. Prunus Besseyi Bailey. WESTERN SAND CHERRY. BESSEY'S CHERRY. 

 (I. F. f. 2019.) A shrub, 3-12 dm. high, the branches spreading or prostrate. 

 Leaves elliptic, oblong or oval, the teeth appressed, the apex and base mostly 

 acute; flowers in sessile umbels, expanding with the leaves, 8-10 mm. broad; fruit 

 12-16 mm. in diameter, on stout pedicels; bitterish and astringent, black, mottled 

 or yellowish. Prairies, Manitoba and Minn, to Kans. and Utah. April-May. 



14. Prunus Cerasus L. SOUR CHERRY. EGRIOT. (I. F. f. 2020.) A tree. 

 Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, variously dentate, abruptly acute or acuminate, 

 rounded at the base, very resinous when young; flowers white, 1.5-2.5 cm. broad, 

 in sessile, lateral, very scaly umbels, expanding with the leaves or before them; 

 pedicels little over 3 cm. long in flower; drupe globose, 8-10 mm. in diameter (larger 

 in cultivation), black or red, sour, without bloom; stone globose. In woods and 

 thickets, N. H. and Mass, to N. Y. and Per.n., escaped from cultivation. Native 

 of Europe. April-May. Fruit June-July. 



15. Prunus Avium L. WILD OR CRAB CHERRY. MAZARD. GEAN. SWEET 

 CHERRY. (I. F. f. 2021.) A large tree. Leaves ovate, oval, or slightly obovate, 

 abruptly short-acuminate, irregularly serrate pubescent on the veins beneath, or 

 over the entire lower surface when young ; fLwers whit? . about 2.5 cm. broad, in 



