134 ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Prunus. 



above flattish, convex beneath. Fl.-stem, strong, round, leafy. 



Corymb, many flowered, branches racemose. Fl. short-stalked^ 



bract, awl-shaped. Cor. rose-coloured, or pale-reddish buff, 



large, handsome. 



Want of scales at the germ., may distinguish this genus from 

 Sedum. 



Bruised Is,, a cooling, astringent, external application. Filtrated 

 juice of the Is. with an equal quantity of Rectified Spirits of Wine. 

 (Dispensary.) 



Juice mixed with honey in aphthous cases. 



Planted on the tops of cottages in the North of England. This 

 was an ancient superstition, to defend from lightning. See 

 Bourne s Antiquities, p. 241. Ed. 1810. 8vo. 



Class XII. ICOSANDRIA. Stamens 20, 



or more from the rim of the Catyoc. 



Order I, MONO G YNIA, Pistil I. 



PRUNUS. Plum,' and Cherry. 



P. Cerasus.^ Wild Ch. Flowers in nearly stalkless 

 umbels. Leaves egg-spear-shaped, folded flat in the 

 bud ; somewhat downy beneath. E. B. 7O6. Ce- 

 rasus vulgaris. G. E. 1502. J. C. nigra. G. E. 

 1505. Prunus 'Avium. Sb. (black-fruited.) 



floods, hedges. 



Tree. April. 



The wild black-fruited cherry, is the Pr. Avium of British 



writers, and with Pr. Cerasus, the red-fruited, forms one species. 



Bark polished, ash-coloured. Fl.-timbels, few fl. Cor. white. 

 Stip. toothed. CaL bent back. Fruit black. Far. with red 

 fruit. 

 Fruits of Icosandrous plants wholesome. 



(P. insititia. Wild JBullace-tree. Flower-stalks in pairs. 

 Leaves spear-egg-shaped ; rolled spirally while young ; 

 downy beneath. Branches thorny at the end. E. B. 

 841. 



Hedges. Sb. (About Rugby. B.v.) 

 Tree. April. 



' Ang. Sax. 



* So named from a city of Pontus, whence the tree was brought into Italy, 

 by LucuUus. The origin of the g-arden cherry. The gum equal to gum- 

 arabic : nutritious, so much so, as to support life. Hasselquist relates that 

 more than one hundred men were kept alive by it, during a siege, for nearly 

 two months. Wood hard, for turning ; and stained to imitate mahogany. 



