ROSE FAMILY 
pale green or reddish green and smooth, lenticular, later reddish 
brown, finally become red brown or gray brown. Inner bark has a 
pleasant and aromatic odor, bitter and aromatic to the taste. 
IVood.—Light brown or red, darkening with exposure ; light, 
strong, close-grained, susceptible of a fine polish. Of great value 
in cabinet work and interior finish of houses, now becoming scarce. 
Sp. gr., 0.5822; weight of cu. ft., 36.28 Ibs. 
Winter Buds.—Chestnut brown, obtuse, one-half to two-thirds of 
an inch long. When spring growth begins the inner scales enlarge 
and become one-half to two-thirds of an inch in length. 
Leaves.—Alternate, simple, oblong to lanceolate-oblong, two to 
five inches long, an inch to an inch and a half broad, wedge-shaped 
or rounded at base, serrate, edges often crinkled, gradually acumi- 
nate or rarely rounded at apex.’ Feather-veined, midrib grooved 
above, prominent beneath, primary veins slender. They come out 
of the bud conduplicate, reddish green; when full grown are deep 
shining. green above, paler beneath; in autumn they turn a clear 
bright yellow. Petioles slender, terete, often marked with dark red 
glands. Stipules caducous. 
Flowers.—May, June, when leaves are half grown. Perfect, white, 
about one-fourth of an inch across, borne in narrow, many-flowered 
racemes three to four inches long. 
Calyx.—Cup-shaped tube, five-lobed, lobes obtuse, reflexed, per- 
sistent, imbricate in bud. 
Corolla.—Petals five, white, obovate, inserted on the calyx tube, 
imbricate in bud. 
Stamens.—Fifteen to twenty, inserted on the calyx tube with the 
petals; filaments thread-like; anthers introrse, two-celled; cells 
opening longitudinally. 
Pistil— Ovary superior, one, set in the bottom of the calyx tube ; 
stigma thick, club-shaped. 
Fruit.—Drupe, depressed-globular, one-third to one-half inch in 
diameter, shining black skin, dark purple juicy flesh. Calyx lobes 
persistent on the fruit. August, September. Stone oblong-ovate ; 
cotyledons thick and fleshy. 
Wild cherry, they grow in clusters like grapes, of the same bigness, blackish 
ted when ripe, and of a harsh taste. 
—JossELyN. ‘'‘ New England Rarities.” 
Prunus serotina is very generally known because of its cher- 
ries. These cherries are flattened juicy globes the size of 
large peas, with a shining black skin and dark purple flesh ; 
borne in a somewhat straggling raceme. When ripe they are 
slightly bitter with a pleasant vinous flavor and from the 
standpoint of one who ate them in childhood delicious. When 
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