526 FLORA. 



v 



scaly lateral umbels, expanding with the leaves; pedicels slender, 2.5-6 cm. long 

 in flower; drupe globose, black or dark red, sweet. In thickets and woodlands, 

 escaped from cultivation. Out. to Mass. and Va. Native of Europe. April-May. 



16. Prunus Pennsylvanica L. f. Wild Red Cherry. Pin or Pigeon 

 Cherry. (I. F. f. 2022. ) A small tree. Leaves oval or lanceolate, acute or acumi- 

 nate, mainly rounded at the base, glabrous, serrulate, rather slender- petioled; flowers 

 in lateral, peduncled or sessile leafless clusters, unfolding with the leaves; pedicels 

 slender, glabrous, 1-2.5 cm. long; drupe globose, red, 4-6 mm. in diameter, with- 

 out bloom, its flesh thin and sour, its stone globular. In rocky woods, and clear- 

 ings, Newf. to Ga., west to the Rocky Mts. April-June. Fruit ripe in August. 



17. Prunus Mahaleb L. Mahaleh. Perfumed Cherry. (I. F. f. 2023.) 

 A small tree or shrub. Bark pale, smooth; leaves petioled, ovate, abruptly acute 

 at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, glabrous, denticulate, fra- 

 grant; flowers about 1 cm. broad, in corymbs borne on short branches of the sea- 

 son, unfolding with the leaves; drupe reddish-black, globose or globose-ovoid, about 

 8 mm. long, the flesh thin, the stone slightly flattened. Roadsides and waste 

 places, Conn, to Ont., N. Y., E. Penn. and Kans. Adv. from Europe. April- 

 May. Fruit ripe July. 



18. Prunus Virginiana L. Choke Cherry. (I. F. f. 2024.) A shrub, or 

 rarely a small tree, with gray bark. Leaves thin, obovateor broadly oval, abruptly 

 acute or acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base, glabrous, or slightly pubes- 

 cent along the veins beneath, serrulate with slender teeth; flowers 8-10 mm. 

 broad, in mainly loosely -flowered racemes, terminating leafy branches of the sea- 

 son; petals suborbicular; drupe red to nearly black, rarely yellow, globose, 8- 

 10 mm. in diameter, very astringent; stone globular. Along river-banks and in 

 rocky situations, Newf. to Manitoba, Br. Col., Ga., Neb., Tex. and Colo. April- 

 May. Fruit ripe in July or August. 



• 19. Prunus demissa (Nutt.) Walp. Western Wild Cherry. (I. F. f. 

 2025.) A shrub or small tree. Leaves similar to those of the preceding, thicker, 

 acute or often obtusish at the apex, and with shorter teeth ; flowers 8- 10 mm. broad; 

 racemes generally dense, terminating leafy branches ; drupe dark purple or black, 

 sweet or but slightly astringent, globose, 6-8 mm. in diameter; stone globular. 

 Prairies and dry soil, Dak. to Kans., N. Mex., Br. Col. and Cal. May-July. 



20. Prunus serotina Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry. Cabinet or Rum 

 Cherry. (I. F. f. 2026.) A large tree, with maximum height of about 30 m., the 

 bark rough and black. Leaves thick, oval, oval-lanceolate or ovate, acuminate 

 or acute, glabrous, or pubescent along the veins beneath, serrate with appressed 

 callous teeth ; flowers similar to those of the two preceding, the racemes elongated, 

 spreading or drooping ; petals obovate ; drupe globose, 8-10 mm. in diameter; 

 dark purple or black, sweet but slightly astringent. In woods or open places, 

 S. Ont. to Fla., Dak., Kans. and Tex. May. Fruit ripe Aug.-Sept. 



Prunus ser6tina Sm;\llii Britton. Leaves firm, coriaceous, coarsely serrate, pale 

 beneath; racemes thick, divergent, rather few-flowered ; calyx and filaments pubescent. 

 Summit of White Top Mountain, Va. 



2. AMYGDALUS L. 



Trees or shrubs, with mostly lanceolate serrulate short-petioled leaves, and pink 

 or white flowers solitary or clustered at the nodes of the twigs of the preceding 

 season. Petals spreading. Stamens 20-30, distinct, the filaments filiform. Style 

 and stigma as in Prunus. Exocarp of the fruit mostly fleshy, velvety in the fol- 

 lowing species ; endocarp (stone) bony, deeply pitted or nearly smooth, oval or 

 oblong, pointed, more or less compressed. [Name said to be Syrian.] About 5 

 species, natives of Asia. 



1. Amygdalus Persica L. Peach. (I. F. f. 2027.) A small tree. Leaves 

 lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 7-14 cm. long, glabrous, long-acuminate, usually 

 narrowed at the base, finely serrate ; petioles 2-6 mm. long; flowers pink, 1-5 cm. 

 broad, scaly-bracted ; drupe subglobose, grooved, softly velvety, 3-8 cm. in diam- 

 eter. Escaped from cultivation, S. N. Y. to Ga. April-May. 



