216 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



Prunus Alabamensis, Mohr. {P. CntJibcrtii, Small?, P. scrotina 

 ncoiiiuiitaiia, Sudw. ?) 



Whether the names in the preceding" line belong to one, two 

 or three species is not certain ; but I am inclined to apply them all 

 to a small tree with leaning or crooked trunk, differing from P. 

 scrotina in these characters, and also in having blunter leaves with 

 rusty hairs along the midribs beneath, and in being more tolerant 

 of fire. 



It grows on rocky slopes of mountains in the northeastern 

 quarter of the state (and in Georgia). 



3. Jefferson and Talladega Counties (Mohr, as P. Alabamensis) . 



4. Calhoun, Talladega and Clay Counties. Cheaha Mountain (Mohr, 

 as P. serotina neomontana) . 



The next species belongs to the section Lauroccrasits (Lcp- 

 tocarya, Nutt.), which is regarded by some as a distinct genus. It 

 differs from Pnuiiis proper in having evergreen leaves, small 

 flowers, and small black inedible or even poisonous fruit. 



Prunus Caroliniana (Mill.) Ait. 



AIoCK Orange. (Laurel Cherry. Wild Peach.) 



A handsome evergreen tree, usually below medium size, with 

 small white flowers in early spring, and dry black poisonous ber- 

 ries ripening in fall. It is a favorite ornamental tree in yards and 

 parks in the South, and is sometimes trimmed to hedge form. The 

 flowers may furnish some honey, but nearly all parts of the tree 

 are poisonous if eaten (but not to the touch). 



Its natural habitat seems to be bluffs and hammocks, well pro- 

 tected from fire ; but it is rare in the wild state, and many if not 

 most of the specimens seen outside of cultivation may have had 

 cultivated ancestors, and have sprung from seeds dropped by birds. 



2B. Bluffs on Warrior River a few miles above Tuscaloosa. 

 7. Dallas and Montgomery Counties. 

 lOE. In the pocosin, Pike County, 

 low. West of Myrtlewood, Marengo County. 

 11. Conecuh County. 



13. A few miles above Tensaw (Bartram). Mobile County (Mohr). 

 15. Some large old trees on a shell island in the bay 12 miles from 

 Mobile (Tuomey, 1850). 



The next three families were formerly treated as one (Legum- 

 inosae), and they do have certain characteristics in cotnmon, es- 

 pecially the leguminous pods and the possession of nodules full of 

 nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their roots; but they differ consider- 

 ably in flower structure. 



