98 



N. Ord. ROSACES. 



Tribe Prunea. 



Genus Prunus, Linn. 



98. Prunus Laurocerasus,* Linn., 8p. Plant., cd. 1, p . 474 



(1753). 



Cherry-Laurel. Cherry-Bay. Common Laurel 



Syn. Cerasus Lauro-cerasus, Loisel 



Figures. Woodville, t. 185; Hayne, iv, t. 41; Steph. & Ch., t. 117; 

 Nees, t. 318. 



Description. A shrub or small tree, sometimes reaching nearly 

 20 feet high, with spreading, slender branches, covered with 

 smooth greyish-brown bark, young branches pale green, perfectly 

 smooth and shining. Leaves evergreen, thick, coriaceous, alter- 

 nate, on short, stout petioles, without stipules, oblong-ovate, 5 7 

 inches long, attenuated at both ends, and somewhat recurved at 

 the apex, margin faintly but sharply and distinctly serrate, re- 

 curved, upper surface dark green, smooth, and polished, under 

 surface much paler, dull, with a very prominent midrib, on either 

 side of which at the base are one or two small, yellow, rounded, 

 glandular depressions. Flowers about \ inch wide, on smooth, 

 spreading stalks, somewhat laxly arranged in stiff, erect, oblong 

 racemes from the leaf-axils, bracts small, caducous. Calyx 

 smooth, dark green, with a broadly urceolate tube, and 5 short 

 triangular teeth. Petals 5, small, distantly inserted on the edge 

 of the calyx tube, roundish, with a short claw, spreading, some- 

 what crumpled, white, reflexed, soon falling. Stamens 20, in- 

 serted in a double row on the margin of the calyx-tube, about as 

 long as the petals, spreading, anthers small. Ovary superior, 

 from the base of the calyx-tube, smooth, tapering into the style, 

 1-celled, with 2 ovules. Fruit a cherry-like drupe, about f inch 

 in diameter, slightly narrowed at the apex, and with a faint 

 * Laurocerasus, a name given by Clusius, from the laurel-like foliage and 

 cherry-like fruit. 



