EOSE FAMTLF. 



117 



lanceolate or oblanceolate, acute, finely serrulate with glao J ilar-pointed 

 teeth ; umbels sessile, 2 - 3-flowered ; fruit globular, re^'i ; the stone 

 ovoid, almost as thick as wide, rounded at both suturer;, cue of them 

 minutely grooved. 



Chicasa Peuxus. Chickasaw Plum. Mountain Cherry. 



stem Q -10 or 12 feet high, much branched, the young branches v'rgate, dark purple, 

 smooth and shining, the old ones crooked or geniculate, and sojiov/hat thorny. Leaves 

 1 -2 inches long, smooth ; petoZe5 slender, one fourth to three fjurths of an inch long. 

 -F/owers appearing with the leaves, in sessile fascicles of three j ; pedicels about half au 

 inch long, slender and smooth. Drupe globose, red or yell/ / ish-red, nearly or quite 

 destitute of bloom, with a tender pulp and a thin skin. 



Cultivated. Fl. April. Fr. July. 



~ Ohs. This little tree (which is believed to be ?>, native of our South- 

 western territory, — where it is a small shrub, m its wild state, — ) by 

 long culture produces a very pleasant fruit. When we ooa^ider the 

 great difficulty attending the" culture of the common pl?ir/ , oa account 

 of the attacks of the curculio, it would seem that this es.d iLa other na- 



tive species should receive more attention from our horticulturists than 

 has yet been bestowed upon them. It approaches the Cherry, in char- 

 acter and appearance, and may be considered as a connecting link be- 

 tween the Plum & Cherry. 



§2. Ceeasus, (Cherry). Fruit destitute of bloom ; the stone globular and 

 marginless ; leaves folded [conduplicate) in the bud ; flowers in umbellate 

 clusters. 



5. P. a'vium, L. Branches erect or ascending, rather stout ; leaves 



Fig. 79. A flower of the common Garden Cherry (Prunus avium). 80. A divided 

 flower with its sohtary pistil free from the calyx. 81. The fruit (drupe) divided to sho\r 

 tlie hardened iniieT portion of the fruit (stone) containing the seed. 



