5 02 



THE BIRD CHERRY. 



THE FLOWER. 



The main flower axis is produced from the apex of the new 

 shoot formed during the early Spring, and continues the direction of 



the shoot, though often with a curved 

 line. 



The flower cluster consists of a main 

 axis, at first upright, from two to three 

 inches long, which bears at intervals 

 numerous five-petalled white blossoms, 

 attached to it by shorter subsidiary 

 pedicels. The flowers have each a white 

 stipule at the base. The buds are first seen early in April, and 

 are fully out by May, when the raceme droops with their weight. 

 The petals open out widely, so that spaces are left between them. 



The fruit is pointed, and its oval slightly elongated. When 

 unripe it is a rich red colour, when ripe black, and no less popular 

 with the feathered tribes than the garden cherries are with humans. 



