Handbook of Trees of the N'ortiierx Stateis axd Canada. 281 



The Choke Cherry is usually a, tall shrub -^j « 

 and only under the most favorable conditions 

 does it become a tree 20 to 3U ft. in height, with 

 irregular rounded top and crooked or leaning 

 trunk. This is rarely more than or 8 in. in 

 di:uneter, and is vested in a gra}'isli bro\\"n 

 more or less mottled anil rather smooth l)ark. 



It is abundant over a large part of its range 

 growing in moist rich soil of river bottoms and 

 along fence-rows and road-sides, where its 

 finger-like racemes of white llowcrs uiake it a 

 beautiful ol)jeet in the nmnth of ^lay, and its 

 stems of dark red cherries when fully ripe 

 offer refreshment to the wayfarer in tlie heat 

 of midsummer. The fruit is used in making 

 pies and jellies and is gatliered for these uses 

 and marketed in many Canadian towns. Its 

 name is appropriately given in allusion to the 

 consequence of attempting to eat the fruit when 

 not thoroughly ripe, for it is then too astrin- 

 gent to be easily swallowed. 



Leaves obovate to oval or olilong, narrow and 

 rounded or tapering at base, abruptly acuminate 

 or sometimes acute at ape.x, finely and sbarply 

 serrate with slender pointed teeth, glabrous and 

 dull dark green above, paler and pubescent along 

 tile veins beneath. Flotrcrs y4-% in. across in 

 cylindrical racemes terminating leafy branchlets ; 

 petals suborbicular. Frtitt al)Out % in. in di- 

 ameter, shining dark or light red (rarely yellow i 

 fubglobose austere and astringent until vrry ripe 

 then edible: stone nearly globose, aliout ^,1 in. Irmg. 



