204 CLASS XII. ORDER I. 



215. PRUNUS. 

 pRUNus ViRGiNiANA. L. Wild Cherry. 



Racemes erect, elongated ; leaves deciduous, oval- 

 oblong, acuminate, unequally serrate, smooth on both 

 sides ; petioles with about four glands. 

 Syn. Cerasus Virginiana. Mich, 



The wild cherry is with us a tree of midJliag size, although 

 further to the south and west it attains to a magnitude of the 

 first rate. Michaux mentions trees on the banks of the Ohio, 

 which are from eighty to a hundred feet high, and their trunks 

 from twelve to sixteen feet in circumference. The wood is a 

 well known material in cabinet work, approaching mahogany in 

 its color and qualities. Leaves alternate, smooth, oval-oblong, 

 acuminate, serrate, with commonly two pair of glands at the top 

 of the petiole in front. Flowers in terminal clusters, white. 

 Fruit small, black, somewhat bitter. The bark has a strong, 

 bitterish, spicy taste, and has been found a useful tonic. — May, 

 June. 

 * Prunus obovata. Dwarf Choke Cherry. 



P. racetnls jjatcntihiis ; foUis obovatis^ acutis, acu- 

 tissime serraiis, glabris. 



Racemes spreading ; leaves obovate, acute, very 

 sharply serrate, smooth. 

 Syn. Prunus serotina. Pursh. ? nee Willd. 



A shrub common about fences and woods, rarely rising to the 

 size of a small tree. The leaves are much broader than those 

 of P. Virginiana, obovate, acute, generally obtuse at base, and 

 sometimes hearted finely, equally, and very sharply serrate, serra- 

 tures not glandular, glabrous on both sides except sometimes a 

 small tuft of down in the axils of the lower veins beneath. Pe- 

 tioles commonly furnished with two glands near the top. Flow- 

 ers white, in divergent, smooth racemes, considerably larger and 

 a fortnight earlier than those of P. Virginiana. Fruit small, red, 

 bitter, strong, and astringent. — May. 



