112 kosacejE. (rose family.) 



§ 1. PRtlNUS, Toum. (Plum.) — Drupe usually with a bloom; the stone Jlat- 

 tened, or at least ivider than thick : leaves convolute in the hud, flowers more or lest 

 preceding the leaves, from lateral buds ; the pedicels few or several, in simple umbel- 

 like clusters. 



1. P. Americana, Marsh. (Wild Yelloiv or Red Plum.) Leaves 

 ovate or somewhat oboyate, conspicuously pointed, coarsely or doubly serrate, very 

 veiny, glabrous when mature ; fruit nearly destitute of bloom, roundish-oval, yel- 

 low, orange, or red, J'-f in diameter, with the turgid stone moi-e or less acute 

 on both margins, or in cultivated states 1' or more in diameter, having a flat- 

 tened stone with broader margins (pleasant-tasted, but with a, tough and acerb 

 skin) . — River-banks, common. May. — Tree or bush thorny, 8° - 20° high. 



2. P. maritima, Wang. (Beach Plum.) Low and straggling (2°- 

 5°) ; leaves Ojiaie or oval, finely serrate, softly pubescent underneath; pedicels short, 

 pubescent; fniit globular, purple or crimson with a bloom (^'-1' in diameter), 

 the stone very turgid, acute on one edge, rounded and minutely grooved on the 

 other. (P. littoralis, Bigelow.) — Varies, when at some distance from the coast, 

 with the leaves smoother and thinner, and the fniit smaller. (P. pygmSea, 

 Willd.) — Sea-beach and the vicinity, Massachusetts to New Jersey and Vir- 

 ginia. April, May. 



3. P. Cllicasa, Michx. (Chickasaw Plum.) Stem scarcely thorny 

 (8°-15° high) ; leaves nearly lanceolate, finely serrulate, glabrous, little veiny; 

 fruit globular, red, nearly destitute of bloom (^' - §' in diameterj ; the ovoid 

 stone almost as thick as wide, rounded at both sutures, one of them minutely 

 grooved. — Kentucky (where probably it is not indigenous) and southwestward : 

 naturalized in some places. April. 



4. P. spin6sa, L. (Sloe. Black Thoen.) Branches thorny; leaves 

 obovate-<tblong or ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate, at length glabrous; pedicels gla- 

 brous ; frait small, globular, black with a bloom, the stone turgid, acute on 

 one edge. — Var. iNSiifTiA (Bullace-Plum), is less spiny, the pedicels 

 and lower side of the leaves pubescent. (P. insititia, £.) — Koad-sides and 

 waste places, E. New England, Penn., &c. (Adv. from Eu.) 



42. CifeRASUS, Toum. (Cheery.) — Drupe destitute of bloom; the stone 

 globular and marginless; leaves folded (conduplicate) in the bud: inflorescence as 

 in § 1. 



5. P. piimila, L. (Dwarf Cherry.) Smooth, depressed and trail- 

 ing (6'- 18' high) ; leaves obovate-lanceolate, tapering to the base, somewhat toothed 

 near the apex, pale underneath ; flowers 2-4 together ; fruit ovoid, dark red. — 

 Eocks or sandy banks, Massachusetts northward to Wisconsin, and south to 

 Virginia along the mountains. May. 



6. P. Pennsylvdnica, L. (Wild Red Cherry.) Leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, pointed, finely and sharply serrate, shining, green and smooth both sides ; 

 flowers many in a cluster, on long pedicels ; fniit globose, light red. — Rocky 

 woods ; common, especially northward. May. :— Tree 20° - 30° high, with 

 light rod-brown bark, and very small fruit with tliin and sour flesh. 



