16 
§ III. Flowers in racemes, axillary. Leaves sempervirent 
or persistent . — Laurocerasus. Tourn. Decand. Laurel 
Cherries. 
HOLLY LEAVED CHERRY. 
CERASUS ilicifolia, foliis lato-ovalibus subcordatis brevi- 
petiolatis spinosa-sinuato-dentalis reticulatis coriaceis ni- 
tidis, racemis erectis foliis subsequantibus, drupa nigra 
ovoidea acuminata. 
Cerasus ilicifolia. Nutt, in Torr. and Gray. Flora N. Amer., 
vol. 1. p. 411. Hook and Arnott. Bot. Beechey, Suppl. p. 
340. tab. 83. 
This is a small tree of Upper California, round Sta. 
Barbara attaining the height of 12 to 20 feet, and 
chiefly affecting dry and elevated hill sides within the 
mountain range. The bark is grey and somewhat 
rough; the wood is reddish, tough, and close-grained. 
The leaves, which are rigid, shining and evergreen, look 
entirely like those of the Holly, they are broadly oval, 
pointed, somewhat heart-shaped at the base, very smooth 
and shining above and elegantly reticulated, often 
undulated, and with sharp pungent serratures. The 
racemes of flowers are erect, somewhat crowded; the 
flowers white and small, on short pedicels, the petals 
rounded and short; the calyx hemispherical, with short 
triangular teeth. The stamens seated near to the sum- 
mit of the calyx; the stigma simple and obtuse. 
This tree, from its remarkable and elegant appear- 
ance, is well worth cultivating as an ornament, and in 
its qualities ranks with the true Laurels. The fruit is 
rather large, dark purple, bitter and astringent. 
Plate XLVII. 
A branch of the natural size. a. The cherry, b. The flower. 
