174 



moiintaiuous portions of northern Idalio and western Montana (on 

 Pacific coast and north of United States bonndary), reaching elevations 

 from 3,000 to 4,000 feet ; but at high altitudes reduced to a shrub. Ee- 

 uiarkable for the density of its growth, covering qnitelarge areas. Va- 

 riety mollis (Brewer) is the form commonly met with in the northern 

 Eocky Mountain region. The timber is light, soft, and brittle. 



Descripiion. — Leaves obloug-ovate, or lance-shaped, chiefly with a binut apex, ta- 

 periug to a short stem ; with small, rounded teeth oi> the margiu, aud woolly pubes- 

 cence on the under surface. Fruit small, globular, red or blackish, with bitter astrin- 

 gent taste ; not edible ; stone with a grooved ridge on one side. Bark much like that 

 of the common cherry tree of cultivation. Notable for its slender, straight trunks. 



46. — Wild Chertiy. {Primus Caimli, Cavanilles.) 



A ratlier small tree, growing in light, rich soil of canyon bottoms, 

 and ranging through Arizona, New Mexico (western Texas, and south- 

 Avard), usually between 5,000 and '7,000 feet. It is a very i^rolific spe- 

 cies, but does not attain its largest size in the United States ; commonly 

 not more than 30 feet in height, with a trunk 3 to 10 inches in diame- 

 ter. The wood is heavy and rather hard. 



Description. — Leaves 1 to 3J inches long, ovate to lance-shaped, sometimes with 

 rather long tapering point; finely and sharply toothed on the margin ; smooth, i)aler 

 on under surface. Very young shoots and leaf stalks downy. Fruit globular, f of an 

 inch in diameter, dark red, with large stone aud scanty flesh ; edible. 



47. — Wild Cherry. {Fninus Bcmissa, W^alpers.) 



Chietly a small shrub as met with on the western slopes of the Eocky 

 Mountains of Montana. In its more westerly range on the Pacific coast 

 it becomes larger, sometimes 30 feet in height, and G to 12 inches in 

 diameter, usually preferring rich valleys. The wood is heavy, hard, 

 but brittle. 



D(SC)'iption. — Leaves ovate to obloug-ovate, tapering suddculy to a point, rounded 

 or heart-shaped at the base; sharply toothed (teeth straight) on the margin; com- 

 monly downy on the under side and dull green above. Fruit purplish or dark red, 

 with sweetish- astringent taste ; edible. 



4S. — Choke-Cherry. (Pnimis Vir(jinianaj Linn.) 



Chiefly a slender shrub, but sometimes a small tree 10 to 15 feet in 

 height. A widely-distributed species, occurring generally throughout 

 the northern Eccky Mountain region (also eastward and north of the 

 United States boundary), usually. preferring moist positions. The wood 

 is light and rather hard. 



Description.— Lieavcs thin, usually smooth and shiny above, paler beneath, 1 to 

 nearly 5 inches long, mostly broad-ovate (wider near the top) to oblong, tapering 

 suddenly to a short point at either end, sometimes heart-or wedge-shaped at the 

 base ; margin finely cut with sharp teeth (often of two sizes). Flowers (white) and 

 fruit borne in a rather long cylindrical cluster (raceme)', the latter when ripe i to 

 I of an inch in diameter), dark red, very astriugent, though with more or less pleas- 

 ant taste. 



