Trc(s of .Stir Yoil, Shih 245 



ROSACEAE 



I'nimis serotina Ehrli. 



Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry 



Habit — The largest of the clieirv trees occurring in the United States, com- 

 monly 50-7n feet in height with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet, under favor- 

 able conditions sometimes 110 feet tall. Under forest conditions the bole 

 is long, (dean, with but slight taper. Trees in the open have a short bole 

 \\hich continues into tlie narrowly oblong, irregular crown. 



Leaves — Alternate, oval, oblong-lanceolate cr lam-e-obovate, 2-5 inches long, 

 1-1 ^4 inches wide, acuminate at the apex, cuueate or rounded at the base, 

 glaudular-serrate with incurved teeth, at maturity thick, glabrous, dark 

 green and lustrous above, paler and glabrous below, borne on slender, 

 biglandular petioles %-1f, of an inch long. 



Flowers — Appearing in May or June when the leaves are nearly grown, per- 

 fect, y^-Mi of an inch broad, borne on short pedicels in nianj^-fiowered, 

 erect or nodding racemes which are 3-6 inches long and terminate short 

 leafy branches. Calyx-tube cup-shaped, glabrous or slightly puberulous, 

 5-lobed, the lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse, reflexed at maturity, persistent. 

 Pettils white, broadly obovate, short-clawed at the base, inserted with the 

 stamens on the calyx-tube. Stamens with glabrous, filiform filaments and 

 oval anthers. Pistil consisting of a green, glabrous, 1-celled ovary, thick 

 style and clavate stigma. 



Fruit — A globose, short-stalked, dark red, lustrous drupe, V^-Vs of an inch 

 in diameter, borne in drooping racemose clusters, ripening in August and 

 September and turning dark purple or black. Skin thick. Flesh thin, 

 juicy, dark purple, of a vinous flavor when fully ripe. Stone obovate, 

 thin-walled, ridged on one side. 



Winter characters — Twigs slender, glabrous, reddish or grayish brown, 

 marked with numerous, pale lenticels, often covered in part with a thin, 

 grayish, evanescent skin which rubs off easily. Bruised twigs have the 

 odor and taste of bitter almonds. Buds ovate, acute, somewhat lustrous, 

 chestnut-brown, divergent or flattened and appressed, %-% of an inch 

 long. Mature bark thin, dark reddish brown, reticulately fissured into 

 small, scaly, persisting plates with upraised edges. 



Habitat — A long-taprooted species requiring a deep soil. Prefers the moist 

 alluvial soils of river-bottoms and fertile slopes but occurs in drier situa- 

 tions on a variety of soils. Under forest conditions it usually grows soli- 

 tary or in small groves, intermixed with other species. 



Range — Xova Scotia westward through southern Canada to South Dakota, 

 south to Florida and eastern Texas. Zones A, B, C, and D. 



Uses — One of the most valuable timber trees of the forests of the eastern 

 United States. Wood rather hard, light, strong, close-grained, pale red- 

 dish brown with thin yellow sapwood. Valuable for furniture, cabinet 

 making and interior finish. Supply largely depleted through inroads 

 made by furniture manufacturers. The delicate, nodding racemes of 

 small, white flowers and dark green, subcoriiiceous leaves render this 

 species of ornamental value. 



