The Shrubs of Wyoming. 25 



good hedge, and as such will serve the purpose of a windbreak, 

 and would have the additional value of being fruit bearing. 



Rocky Mountain Cherry (Prunus demissa melanocarpa Aven 



Nelson).* 



This is the well known wild cherry, which is common 

 throughout the state. It is usually only a shrub, often forming 

 small groves along streams, but occasionally attaining tree-like 

 size in favored situations. On account of its showy, white 

 flowers it is of some value as an ornamental, while its sweet, but 

 slightly astringent, black fruits make an excellent jelly. The 

 flowers and the fruits are borne in elongated (racemed) clus- 

 ters unlike those of the garden cherries. At lower altitudes in 

 the state it is very productive, but in the lower mountains, 

 where it also occurs, it is late in maturing and seldom bears 

 fruit in abundance. 



Wild Red Cherry, Pin or Pigeon Cherry (Prunus Pennsyl- 



vanica L. f.) 



This cherry is rare in this state, having been found only in 

 Crook and Sheridan counties. In the Mississippi Valley States 

 and in the Eastern States it grows to be a tree 20 to 30 feet 

 high, but with us it is only a shrub. It differs from the com- 

 mon wild cherry of the state in that its flowers and fruits are 

 not borne in long clusters, but are crowded close together usu- 

 ally at the end of the very short twigs. It has also smaller red 

 fruits which are not edible. This cherry is occasionally used 

 for ornamental purposes in the eastern United States. 



Western Sand Cherry (Prunus Besseyi Bailey). 



A dwarf cherry, a few inches to four feet high, the branches 

 diffuse and spreading. It has small, oblong leaves, which are 

 green and shining above, whitish beneath. The fruits are black 

 when ripe, one-half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter, 



*Since the publication of Bulletin No. 40, entitled "The Trees of Wyoming and How to 

 Know Them." Prof. Aven Nelson has found that our native cherry is different from the Prunus 

 demissa occurring in Washington and Oregon, and has given it the varietal name of melanocarpa. 

 meaning black-fruited. 



