144 



DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



of these characteristics. Many of the species are apt to be thorny. The 

 blossoms are single with 5 petals and many stamens, like the peach ; or 



FiQ. 204. — English Laurel. 



double, like the flowering almond, 

 before the leaves expand. 



Fio. 205. — Mock Orange. 



Nearly all bloom in spring, some 

 [Seeds ; grafting of varieties.] 



KEY TO SMALL BUSHY FORMS OF PEUNUS CUL- 

 TIVATED FOR FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE MORE 

 THAN FOR FRUIT 



* Leaves deciduous ; flowers solitary or in umbel-like clusters. (A.) 

 A. Plant usually very thorny ; fruit, if formed, small (J inch or less), 

 purple or yellow, covered with bloom like a plum ; leaves blunt ; 

 low spreading bushes. (B.) 

 B. Fruit, it formed, small, pea-like, and inedible, hanging on until 

 winter ; leaves very numerous and small. Blackthokn (198) 

 — Prunus spin6sa. 

 B. Fruit flattened at ends, J inch long ; flowers abundant, before 

 the leaves ; branches rough and warty. Beach Plum (199) 

 — • Prunus marltima. 

 B. Fruit large (f-lj inches) globular ; leaves in the ornamental 



