ROSACEAE— PRUNUS 



515 



Prunus demissa Walp. Western Wild Cherry or Choke Cherry, 



A shrub or small tree; leaves thick and oval or obovate, acute or more or 

 less obtuse at the apex; teeth rather short; flowers white in dense racemes, 

 terminating leafy branches; fruit dark or purplish black, less astringent than 

 the preceding. 



Distribution. Dry soil, common in thickets and woods from Dakota to 

 Kansas, New Mexico to California and British Columbia. 



Prunus serotina Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry 



Large tree with reddish brown branches, reddish wood ; leaves thick, oblong, 

 or lanceolate-oblong, taper pointed, serrate, with short teeth shining above; 

 flowers in elongated spreading or drooping racemes; petals obovate; fruit 

 purplish black, and slightly astringent. 



Fig. 276. Black cherry {Prunus serotina). 1. Flowering branch. 

 2. Longitudinal section of flower, enlarged. 3. Fruiting branch. 4. 

 Cross section of fruit. 5. Longitudinal section of fruit. 6. Winter 

 branchlet. 1, 3, 6, one-half natural size. 4, 5, natural size. (M. M. 

 Cheney in Green's Forestry in Minnesota.) 



