Handbook of Trees of tiie Xoj;tiii-:i;x Stativs axd ( 'axada. 267 



The Pigeon Cherry i3 a small, handsome tree 

 occasionally attaining the lieight of 30 or 4U 

 ft. and lU or 12 in. in diameter of trunk, but 

 is usually much smaller. It develops a rather 

 narrow oblong top with slender upright 

 branches. The bark of smaller truid-;3 and 

 branches is lu&trous and of a rich «ine color 

 marked with prominent band-like lenticels and 

 peeling off in horizontal strips. Few trees of 

 northern regions equal it in beauty in early 

 llav, when each branclilet becomes a garland 

 of delicate white llowcrs and tender bright 

 green leaves, or in mid-summer when its llow- 

 ers are succeeded by an abundance of small 

 bright red translucent long-stemmed cherries. 



It inhabits dry sandy soil, coming up in 

 abundance from seeds scattered by the birds 

 on forest tracks recently denmled l)y fires. 

 Here, ofi'ering shade and shelter fiir the more 

 tender seedlings of other and more useful trees, 

 it vies with the l^luaking Asp in hastening re- 

 furestation. And tlien, as though its mission 

 ended there, it dies as soon as its nurselings 

 surpass it in size and really need the space 

 it occupies. 



The wood is rather light, a cubic foot weigh- 

 ing 31. .30 lbs., soft and vrry close-grained but 

 of little commercial importance. i 



LraiT.s obloDK-lanceolate, mostly rounded at 

 base and acuminate at apex, finely unetjually ser- 

 rate, slightly viscid wdien young, smooth both 

 sirlcs at maturity, shining green above, paler i^e 

 neath ; pedicels slender, glandular above. Flowers 

 about Vo in. across in lateral 4-.5-flowered umbels 

 or corymbs with long pedicels. Fruit subglobose, 

 about 14 in, in diameter, light red, translucent, 

 with very tart juicy tlesh and oblong slightly com- 

 pressed stone about 3-16 in, long. 



1. A. W., Ill, 5.5. 



