142 ROSACEiE 



cultivated Plums, not indigenous in Europe. — Fl. April, May. 

 Perennial. 



** Leaves conduplicate : drupe polished 



4. P. Avium (Wild Cherry, Gean). — A tree 20 — 30 feet high, 



with smooth bark and few or no suckers ; leaves drooping, abruptly 



pointed, downy beneath ; flowers m umbels ; calyx-tube contracted 



above ; fruit heart-shaped, bitter, black, or red. — Woods and 



prunus pXdus {Bird Cherry!). 



hedges ; common. A highly ornamental tree, not only on 

 account of its elegant white flowers in spring, but even more so in 

 autumn, when its leaves assume a bright crimson hue. As soon 

 as it is ripe the fruit is greedily devoured by birds. This species 

 is the origin of the Morella Cherry. — Fl. May. Perennial. 



5. P. Cerasus (Dwarf or Red Cherry). — A shrub not more than 

 8 feet high, with redder bark and many suckers ; leaves not 

 drooping, smooth on both sides ; flowers in umbels ; calyx-tube 

 not contracted ; fruit round, juicy, acid, and red. The origin of 



