ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA 287 



y 



Obs. Numerous varieties qf Ms are cultivated, here ; but, with the exception of 

 the Damascene, or black plum, the crop of fruit is very uncertain. 



2 P. ametiicaxa, Marsh. Subspinose ; leaves oval and obovate, 

 acuminate, sharply and often doubly serrate ; umbels subsessile, 2 to 5 

 flowered ; fruit roundish-oval. Beck, Hot. p. 95. Icon, Ann. Lye. 



p/nigmfamcricana). Muhl. Catal. p. 48. Not? of mild. Pers. 



Ait. &c. 



P. hicmalis? Mx. Am. I. p. 285. Pers. Syn. 2. p. 35. J\utt. Gen. 



1. /;. 302. Ell. Sk. 1. p. 542. Not? of Muhl. Pursh, nor ? Lindl. 



Cerasus hyemalis ? DQ. Prodr. 2. p. 538. Hook. Am. 1. p. 168. 



Also ? Beck, Bot. p. 96. 



American Prunus. Vulgo— Red Plum. Yellow Plum. 



Stem 8 to 12 or 15 feet high, much branched ; young branches virgatc, the old 

 ones rough and rugged, subspinose. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, and 1 to 2 inches 

 wide, varying from oblong-ovate to oval, and obovate, strongly acuminate, pubes- 

 cent beneath when young, finally smoothish, serrate, serratures acuminate; 

 petioles 1 fourth to half an inch long, sulcate and pubescent on the upper side/and 

 generally but not constantly with 2 glands near the base of the leaf; stipules mostly 

 3-partcd, segments lance-linear, often longer than the petioles, fringed with 

 setaceous gland-bearing teeth. Flotcers preceding the leaves, in numerous fasci- 

 cles, or umbels, of 2 to 5 (usually 3 or 4) from a bud ; pedicels 1 third or near half 

 an inch lonir, smooth. Calyx-seg?7ie?i!x linear-lanceolate, rather obtuse, often with 

 2 or 3 minute teeth at apex, pubescent. Petals white, obovate, very obtuse, often 

 crenulatc at apex. Drupe oval, or subglobose, half an inch to an inch in diameter, 

 mostly reddish orange-color when mature, nearly destitute of bloom, with a softish 

 or succulent yellow pulp, and a thick coriaceous skin. 

 Hab. Banks of streams; meadows; fence-rows, &c frequent. Fl. April. Fr. Aug. 



O65. The fruit of this is much improved, both in size and quality, by culture. 

 In its wild state, the flowers are often abortive. There have been some strange 

 misnomers, and mistakes, about this plum,— if it be really the one intended by P. 

 nigra, and P. hiemalis, of Authors. When my Catalogue was published, I thought 

 it could not have been described by any Botanist, except Marshall,— and that it 

 must be very circumscribed in its habitat ; but I have since ascertained that it is 

 quite common throughout Pennsylvania,— and probably to a much greater extent 



3# P. ciiicasa, Mx. Subspinose ; leaves narrow-lanceolate, or ob- 

 lanceolate, acute, finely serrulate ; umbels sessile, 2 to Z-floxvcrcd ; 

 fruit globose. Mx. Am. 1. p. 284. 

 P. angustifolia. Marsh. Arbust p. 111. 



Cerasus Chicasa. DC. Prodr. 2. p. 538. Hook. Am. 1. p. 168. 

 ChicasaW Pruxus. Vulgd — Chicasatv Plum. Mountain Cherry. 



Stem 8 to 10 or 12 feet high, much branched ; young branches virgate, smooth 

 and shining, dark purple, the older ones crooked, or geniculate, forming a bushy 

 head, subspinose from abortive branchlets. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, and 1 third 

 toZfourtfis of an inchwide* mostly acute, smooth , or with a slight pubescence along 

 the midrib beneath, serratures minute, with transparent gland-like points ; petioles 

 slender, 1 fourth to 3 fourths of an inch long, often with lor 2 glands near the base 

 of the leaf , pubescent when young ; stipules linear, glandular-serrate. Flowers 

 appearing with the leaves, in lateral closely sessile umbels of about 3 from a bud ; 

 pedicels about half an inch long 9 slender, smooth. Calyx-segments lance-oblong, 



