594 ICOSANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Prunes. 
(Var. 2. Fructu nigra . Fruit black. The hairiness on the under surface 
of the leaf proves too variable to constitute a specific distinction. E.) 
Ludw. 108— Blackw. 425— Sheldr. 54. 5— Ger. 1323. 11. 
Black Cherry. Mazzards. Carrons, Carone, or Crown, in Hert¬ 
fordshire, when cultivated. In some southern counties, Wild Cherries 
are likewise called Merries, from the French Merise. Welsh : Ceriosen , 
Sirianen ddu. P. avium . Linn. With., &c. P. Cerasus S. Sm. P. ni- 
gra. Ehrh. Cerasus sylvestris , fructu nigra . Ray. C. nigra. Ger. Em. 
E.) 
P. domes'tica. Fruit-stalks mostly solitary: leaves spear-egg-shaped, 
convolute when young: branches thornless. 
(E. Bat 1783. E.)— Woodv. 8 5—Park. 1512. 1 —Ger. 1311. 1 —Matth. 265 
—Panic, i. 52. 1 —Fuchs. 403 —Trag. 1019— Dad. 805— Lob. Ohs. 595. 2 
—Ger. Em. 1497. 1. 
(A moderate-sized tree. E.) Leaves , when expanding from the bud, 
coiled. Flowering-buds producing no leaves. Linn. Calyx sometimes 
six-cleft. Style crooked. ( Leaves on short foot-stalks, serrated, smooth, 
the younger ones pubescent beneath. Petals white, inversely egg-shaped. 
Fruit large, black, with a fine bloom, elliptical. FI. Brit. E.) 
Wild Plum-tree. (Welsh: Eirinen ; Eirin-hren. P. communis domes - 
tica. Huds. P. gallica ; (the fruit.) Pharm. Lond. Hedges, and similar 
situations, though perhaps rarely found in a perfectly native state. E.) 
T. April.** 
(though inferior), may be eaten either fresh or dried; and it is frequently infused in 
brandy for llie sake of its flavour. The wood is hard and tough. It is used by the turner, 
and is formed into chairs and hoops, and stained to imitate mahogany, (to which valuable 
wood, both in grain and colour, it opproaches nearer than any other of this country. E.) 
This tree is the original stock from which the cultivated kinds are derived, (which, however 
agreeable to the palate, if taken in large quantities, are apt to prove indigestible. The finer 
sorts were first introduced into Kent from Flanders, temp. Hen. VIII.—Mr. Brinkley 
observes—“ the eatable part of the cherry, (or other stone fruit), first serves the purposes of 
perfecting the seed or kernel, by means of vessels passing through the stone. After the 
kernel is perfected, the stone becomes hard, and the vessels cease their functions. But the 
substance surrounding the stone is not then thrown away as useless. That which was 
before only an instrument for perfecting the kernel, now' receives and retains to itself the 
whole of the sun’s influence, and thereby becomes a grateful food to man. Also what an 
evident mark of design is the stone protecting the kernel. The intervention of the stone 
prevents the second use from interfering with the first. 1 ’ And since we cannot but admit 
with the judicious Paley, that “ arrangement, disposition of parts, subserviency of means to 
an end, relation of instruments to a use, imply the presence of intelligence and mind; ” as 
an occupation worthy of the utmost attention of rational, though finite beings, 
“ Each secret spring, each organ let us trace, 
That mock the proudest art of human race.” 
A parasitic fungus of doubtful genus, (according to Purton), having some affinity to Peziza, 
to Spheeria, and to ClaVaria, (Peziza Cerasi, of Persoon), is found very common on the 
dead branches of the wild Cherry tree. “At first it is externally black—afterwards bursting, 
exhibits a paler colour beneath.” Li via Cerasi may be detected on this tree. E.) 
* Hie Wild Plum-tree loves a lofty exposure, and is less injurious to pasturage than 
many other trees. The varieties have probably originated from tire red and white cultivated 
plum, either sown by design or accident. The garden plums are derived from this species, 
at first raised from the stones, hut afterwards preserved by budding and grafting on any 
plum-stock. Cotton may be died of a rose colour by the juice of the wild,fruit, combined 
with muriatic or sulphuric acid. E.) The bark dyes yellow. (Livia Pruni may be 
observed upon this tree. E.) 
