PRUNUS AMERICANA, MARSH. 123 



abruptly acuminate ; base wedge-shaped, rounded, somewhat 

 heart-shaped, or narrowing to a short petiole more or less red- 

 glandular near the blade ; stipules usually linear, ciliate, soon 

 falling. 



Inflorescence. Appearing in May before the leaves, in lateral, 

 2-3-flowered, slender-stemmed umbels ; flowers about an inch 

 broad, white when expanding, turning to pink ; calyx 5-lobed, 

 glandular ; petals 5, obovate-oblong, contracting to a claw ; sta- 

 mens numerous ; style 1, stigma 1. 



Fruit. A drupe, oblong-oval, 1-1-J- inches long, orange or 

 orange red, skin tough, flesh adherent to the flat stone and 

 pleasant to the taste. The fruit toward the southern limit of 

 the species is often abortive, or develops through the growth 

 of a fungus into monstrous forms. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy throughout New England, and 

 will grow, when not shaded, in almost any dry or moist soil. 

 It has a tendency to sucker freely, forming low, broad thickets, 

 especially attractive from their early spring flowers and hand- 

 some autumn leaves. 



PLATE LXI. PRUNUS NIGRA. 



1. Winter buds. 



2. Flowering branch. 



3. Flower with petals removed. 



4. Petal. 



5. Fruiting branch. 



6. Stone. 



Prunus Americana, Marsh. 



A rare plant in New England, scarcely attaining tree-form. 

 The most northern station yet reported is along the slopes of 

 Graylock, Massachusetts, where a few scattered shrubs were 

 discovered in 1900 (J. R. Churchill). In Connecticut it seems 

 to be native in the vicinity of Southington, shrubs, and small 

 trees 10-15 feet high (C. H. Bissell in lit., 1900); New Milford 

 and Munroe, small trees (C. K. Averill). 



Distinguished from P. nigra by its sharply toothed leaves, 

 smaller blossoms (the petals of which do not turn pink), and 

 by its globose fruit. 



