ROSACEAE 
Choke Cherry 
Prunus virgimana L. [Padus virginiana (L.) Roemer] 
HABIT.—Usually a large shrub, but sometimes a small tree 
15-25 feet high, with a crooked, often leaning trunk 5-6 inches 
in diameter; forming a spreading, somewhat rounded crown. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 2-4 inches long, one-half as 
broad; obovate to oblong-obovate or oval, abruptly acuminate at 
the apex; finely and sharply serrate; dull dark green above, paler 
beneath, glabrous both sides; petioles short, slender, glandular at 
the apex. 
FLOWERS.—May, when the leaves are half grown; perfect; 
about 14 inch across; borne on short, slender pedicels in many- 
flowered racemes 3-6 inches long; calyx cup-shaped, 5-lobed; 
petals 5, white; stamens 15-20; stigma broad, on a short style. 
FRUIT.—July-August; a globular drupe, 14-14 inch in diam- 
eter, usually bright red, often yellow to almost black, with dark 
red flesh; astringent, but edible. 
WINTER-BUDS,.—Terminal bud %-% inch long, conical, 
acute; scales rounded at the apex, light brown, smooth. 
BARK.—Twigs at first light brown or greenish, becoming 
red-brown, finally dark brown; thin, dark brown on the trunk, 
slightly fissured. 
WOOD.—Heavy, hard, close-grained, weak, light brown, with 
thick, lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout the entire state. 
HABITAT.—Prefers a deep, rich, moist loam, but is com- 
mon on less favorable sites. 
NOTES.—The most widely distributed tree of North Amer- 
ica, extending from the arctic circle to Mexico, from the Rocky 
Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. 
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