32S 



AMYGDALACEAE. 



Vol. II. 



15. Prunus pennsylvanica L. f. Wild Red 

 or Pigeon Cherry. Fig. 2423. 



Prunus pennsylvanica L. f. Suppl. 252. 1781. 

 Cerasus pennsylvanica Lois. Nouv. Duham. 5 : 9. 

 1812. 



A small tree, with maximum height of about 

 35°, and trunk diameter of ii°, sometimes 

 shrubby. Leaves oval or lanceolate, acute or 

 acuminate at the apex, mainly rounded at the 

 base, glabrous and shining on both sides, serru- 

 late, rather slender-petioled ; fiowers vi^hite, in 

 lateral, corymbose, peduncled or sessile leafless 

 clusters, unfolding with the leaves; pedicels slen- 

 der, glabrous, 6"-i2" long; drupe globose, red, 

 2"-3" in diameter, without bloom, its flesh thin 

 and sour, its stone globular. 



In rocky woods, and clearings, Newfoundland to 

 Georgia, British Columbia and Colorado. Woods 

 soft, light brown ; weight per cubic foot 31 lbs. Dog- 

 wood. Bird-, red-, fire- or pin-cherry. April-June. 

 Fruit ripe in August. 



16. Prunus Mahaleb L. Mahaleb. Perfumed Cherry. Fig. 2424. 



Primus Mahaleb L. Sp. PI. 474. I753- 



Cerasus Mahaleb Mill. Gard. Diet. Ed. 8, no. 4. 

 1768. 



A small tree or shrub, with maximum 

 height of about 25° and trunk diameter of 

 l" generally flowering when but a few years 

 old. Bark pale, smooth ; leaves petioled, ovate, 

 abruptly acute at the apex, rounded or slightly 

 cordate at the base, glabrous on both sides, 

 denticulate, fragrant; flowers white, about 5" 

 broad, in corymbs borne on short leafy branches 

 of the season, tmf olding with the leaves ; 

 drupe reddish-black, globose or globose-ovoid, 

 about 4" long, the flesh thin, the stone slightly 

 flattened. 



Roadsides and waste places, Ontario to New 

 York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Adventive 

 from Europe. Wood hard, brown. Used in Eu- 

 rope for cabinet making. April-May. Fruit ripe 

 July. 



2. PADUS Mill. Card. Diet. Abr. Ed. 4. 1754. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate deciduous leaves and small white flowers in narrow 

 racemes terminating leafy branches of the season. Petals spreading. Stamens 15-20. 

 Calyx-tube bell-shaped, with 5 short sepals. Style terminal, simple, the stigma flattish. 

 Drupe small, globose, red to purple or black, the exocarp fleshy, the endocarp hard, smooth. 

 [Greek name for the European species.] 



About IS species, natives of the northern hemisphere. Besides the following, 4 occur in the 

 Southern States and 1 in northwestern America. Type species : Prunus Padus L. 



Sepals deciduous ; teeth of the leaves slender ; shrubs or small trees. 



Fruit very astringent ; leaves thin. i. P. nana. 



Fruit sweet, little astringent ; leaves thick. ■ 2. P. melanocarpa. 



Sepals persistent ; leaves coarsely toothed ; large tree. 3. P. virginiana. 



