ROSE FAMILY 



141 



1. Prunus (Plum, Cherry).— Trees or shrubs ; /eaz'a simple, 

 serrate, with glands on the petiole ; se/a/s 5, deciduous ; /'c/d^s ^, 

 white; staiium 15 — 20; fniit a drupe with a smooth stone. 

 (Xame classical ) 



* Leaves convolufe : drupe glaucous 



li P. spinosa (Blackthorn or Sloe). — Branches verv spinous with 

 blackish bark ; leaves narrow, elliptical, smooth above, slightly 

 downy near the midrib 

 below ; jiiK.'ers mostly 

 solitary, appearing before 

 the leaves ; fri/if nearly 

 round, ?? in. in diameter, 

 black and verv austere. 

 — Woods and hedges : 

 abundant. A well known 

 bush deriving its name 

 from the hue of its bark, 

 which is much darker 

 than that of the Haw 

 thorn or ^^'hitethorn, as 

 it is often called. The 

 leaves are said to be used 

 to adulterate tea, and the 

 tVuit, which is so austere 

 that a drop of its juice 

 placed on the tongue 

 will produce a roughness 

 on the throat and palate 

 perceptible for a long 

 time, is said to enter 

 largely into the composi- 

 tion of spurious port 

 wine. — Fl. March, April. 

 Perennial. 



2. P. Insliitia (Bullace). — JSranc'ics ending in a spine, with 

 brown bark ; leaves elliptical, downy beneath : fioivers in pairs, 

 appearing with the leaves ; f?-in't globose, pendulous, nearly i in. 

 in diameter, black or yellow, more palatable than the sloe. — 

 Woods and hedges. Larger than the last.^Fl. .\pril. May. 

 Perennial. 



3.* F. domcstica (\Vild Plum>. — A small tree without spines, 

 with brown bark ; leaves downy on the ^•eins beneath ; frnli 

 oblong, an inch or more in diameter, sweet. — The original of our 



pRrNvs .vviuM {Gt'aji). 



