324 ROSACEA. [Bfbus. 



deciduous in fruit ; lobes 5, imbricate. Petals 5. Stamens 15-60, 

 perigvnous, inserted in the mouth of the calyx-tube ; filaments free. 

 Carpel 1 ; style terminal ; ovules 2, collateral, pendulous. Drupe 

 with an indehiscent or 2-valved, 1-seeded, smooth or rugged stone. 

 Seed pendulous ; albumen scanty or 0. — Species about 80, chiefly in 

 N. Temperate regions. 



Besides the cultivated kinds mentioned below, 12 indigenous species of 

 Prunus are described in the Fl. Brit. India, none of which are met with 

 in the plains of !N". India , The following are cultivated in gardens, 

 within the area of the Upper Gangetic Plain : — 



1. P. persica, Stohes ; Brand. For. Fl. 191 ; F. B. I. ii, 313 ; Watt E. D. 

 Amygdalus persica, Limi.; Boxh. Fl. Ind ii, 500 ; DC. L'Orig. PI. Cult. 

 176.—Yern. Aru (The peach),^A native of China, where it has been 

 cultivated for over 2,000 years. It is now extensively grown in the 

 plains of Upper India, and on the Himalaya, up to 10,000 ft. It has 

 become quite naturalized on the hills, and in Dehra-Dun it is often found 

 in a semi-wild condition. A smooth-skinned variety is known as the nec- 

 tarine ; and another, bearing a curiously flattened fruit (P. platycarpa, 

 Dc.ie.), is also cultivated within the area. 



2. P. armeniaca, Linn. ; Boxh. Fl. Ind. ii, 501; Brand. For. Fl. 191 ; 

 F. B. I. ii., 313; DC. L'Orig. PI. Cult. 171 ; WattE.D. -Vern. Zarddlu (The 

 Apricot). — Sparingly cultivated within the area, the climate being less 

 suitable than that of the hills for the production of good fruit. On the 

 Himalaya it is very extensively grown, and very often has the appearance 

 of being indigenous. There is very little doubt, however, as to its 

 having originally come from China. 



3. FvLddnm, Boxh. ; Brand. For Fl. 194 ; F.B.I, ii, 314; Watt E. D. 

 P. sylvatica, Boxh Fl. Ind. ii, 501. Cerasus Puddum, Eoyle 111.205.— 

 Occasionally cultivated within the northern portion of the area. It 

 grows wild on the W. Himalaya up to 6,0u0 ft., and bears a small cherry- 

 like fruit which is used for making cherry brandy. 



4. P. communis, Hvds., var. instititia ; Brand. For. Fl. 192; F. B. I. ii, 



315 ; Watt E. D. P. instititia, Limi.; DO. L'Orig. PI. Cult. 170. P. spin - 

 osa, Linn. var. instititia, Ind. Keiv. P. bokhariensis and Aloocha, Boyle 

 I]l.205.—Vexn. .Aluc/ia— (The BuUace).— This variety of plum is grown 

 to great perfection in the plains of Upper India. The fruit is yellow 

 with often a reddish tinge, and is very sweet and juicy when quite ripe. 

 It is found wild in S. Europe, Armenia and South of the Caucasus. The 

 true plum (P. communis, var. domestica) is cultivated to a small extent 

 in the -plains of N. India, but the fruit is inferior to that which is pro- 

 duced on the hills. 



2. RUBUS, Linn. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, 326. 



Creeping herbs or erect or sarmentose shrubs, almost always 

 prickly. Leaves alternate, simple or compound ; stipules free or 



