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WILD ORANGÉ TREE. 
Cerasus caroxiniana. C.foliis perenn antibus, breviter petiolatis, lanceolato- 
oblongis, mucronatis, Icevigatis, subcoriaceis, inttgris ; racemis axillaribus , 
brevibus ; fructu subgloboso, acuto, sub-exsuco. 
Obs. Arbor formosa, fastigiata ; ramis strictis ; fructibus hieme persistentibus. 
This beautiful species of Cherry Tree was observed in the Bahama Isles 
by Catesby, and subsequently by my father. On the continent of North 
America it appears to be nearly confined to the islands on the coast of the 
Caroliaas, of Georgia and of the Floridas. Except the margin of the sea, 
it is rarely found on the mainland, even at the distance. of 8 or 10 miles 
from the shore, where the temperature is 5 or 6 degrees colder in the win- 
ter, and proportionally milder in the summer. 
This tree is known only by the name of Wild Orange Tree. Its leaves 
are oval-acuminate, evergreen, smooth and shining on the upper surface, 
and about 3 inches in length. The flowers are numerous, white, and ar- 
ranged in little bunches an inch or an inch and a half long, which spring at 
the base of the leaf. The fruit is small, oval, and nearly black: it consists 
of a soft stone surrounded with a small quantity of green pulpy substance, 
which is not eatable. This fruit persists through a great part of the follow- 
ing year, so that in the spring the tree is laden at once with fruit and with 
flowers. The Wild Orange Tree may be considered as one of the most 
beautiful vegetable productions of this part of the United States, and it is 
selected with the more reason by the inhabitants to plant about their houses, 
as it grows with rapidity and affords an impenetrable shade. 
I have remarked that of all the trees which grow naturally in the Caro- 
lina? and in Georgia, the flowers of the Wild Orange are preferred by bees. 
It ramifies at a small height, and forms a spacious and tufted summit, 
which is owing, perhaps, to its growdng upon open ground instead of being 
compressed in the forest, and forced to shoot upwards in order to enjoy the 
light. The bark of the trunk is of dun complexion, and is commonly with- 
out cracks. 
The perfect wood is rose-colored and very fine-grained ; but as this spe- 
cies is not extensively multiplied, I do not know that it is appropriated to 
any use : there is the less occasion for it, as other wood, in no respect infe- 
rior, is procured with facility. 
I have remarked in the bark of the roots a strong odor resembling that 
