Part 55 (1/2)

4. P. Chicasa, Michx. (CHICKASAW PLUM.) Stem scarcely th.o.r.n.y (8--15 high); _leaves nearly lanceolate, finely serrulate, glabrous_; fruit globular, _red, nearly dest.i.tute of bloom_ (--{2/3}' in diameter); the ovoid stone almost as thick as wide, rounded at both sutures, one of them minutely grooved.--Md. to Fla., west to S. Ind., Kan., and Tex.

5. P. gracilis, Engelm. & Gray. _Soft-p.u.b.escent_, 1--4 high; _leaves oblong-lanceolate to ovate, acute, sharply serrate_, becoming nearly glabrous above, 1--2' long; _pedicels and calyx p.u.b.escent_; fruit less than ' in diameter; stone rather turgid, suborbicular.--Prairies and sandy places, S. Kan. to Tex. and Tenn.

6. P. pumila, L. (DWARF CHERRY. SAND C.) Smooth, depressed and trailing (6'--6 high); _leaves obovate-lanceolate, tapering to the base_, somewhat toothed near the apex, _pale underneath_; flowers 2--4 together; fruit ovoid, dark red or nearly black when ripe, without bloom; stone ovoid, marginless, of the size of a large pea.--Rocks or sandy banks, N. Brunswick to Va., west to Minn. and Kan. Fruit usually sour and astringent.

7. P. Pennsylvanica, L. f. (WILD RED CHERRY.) Tree 20--30 high, with light red-brown bark; _leaves oblong-lanceolate, pointed, finely and sharply serrate, s.h.i.+ning, green and smooth both sides_; flowers many in a cl.u.s.ter, on long pedicels; fruit globose, light red, very small, with thin and sour flesh; stone globular.--Rocky woods, Newf. to N. C., west to Minn. and Mo.

P. SPINSA, L. (SLOE. BLACK THORN.) Branches th.o.r.n.y; _leaves obovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate, at length glabrous_; pedicels glabrous; fruit small, globular, black with a bloom, the stone turgid, acute on one edge.--Var. INSIt.i.tIA (BULLACE-PLUM), is less spiny, the pedicels and lower side of the leaves p.u.b.escent.--Roadsides and waste places, N. Eng. to Penn. and N. J. (Adv.

from Eu.)

-- 2. PADUS. _Drupe small, globose, without bloom; the stone turgid-ovate, marginless; flowers in racemes terminating leafy branches, therefore appearing after the leaves, late in spring._

8. P. Virginiana, L. (CHOKE-CHERRY.) A tall shrub, with grayish bark; _leaves oval, oblong, or obovate, abruptly pointed, very sharply (often doubly) serrate with slender teeth_, thin; petals roundish; fruit red turning to dark crimson; stone smooth.--River-banks, Newf. to Ga., west to Minn., E. Neb., and Tex.--Fruit very austere and astringent. A variety with very short dense racemes and sweeter yellowish fruit has been found at Dedham, Ma.s.s.

9. P. sertina, Ehrh. (WILD BLACK CHERRY.) A large tree, with reddish-brown branches; _leaves oblong or lanceolate-oblong, taper-pointed, serrate with incurved short and callous teeth_, thickish, s.h.i.+ning above; racemes elongated; petals obovate; fruit purplish-black.--Woods, N. Scotia to Fla., west to Minn., E. Neb., and La.--Fruit slightly bitter, but with a pleasant vinous flavor.

10. P. demissa, Walp. Low but tree-like in habit, 3--12 high, resembling n. 8 in foliage, but the leaves rather thick and the teeth less slender; racemes often elongated; fruit purplish-black, sweet and but slightly astringent.--Central Kan. and Neb. to New Mex., Dak., and westward.

2. SPIRae'A, L. MEADOW-SWEET.

Calyx 5-cleft, short, persistent. Petals 5, obovate, equal, imbricated in the bud. Stamens 10--50. Pods (follicles) 5--8, not inflated, few--several-seeded. Seeds linear, with a thin or loose coat and no alb.u.men.--Shrubs or perennial herbs, with simple or pinnate leaves, and white or rose-colored flowers in corymbs or panicles. (The Greek name, from spe????, _to twist_, from the twisting of the pods in the original species.)

-- 1. SPIRaeA proper. _Erect shrubs, with simple leaves; stipules obsolete; pods mostly 5, several-seeded._

1. S. betulaeflia, Pall., var. corymbsa, Watson. Nearly smooth (1--2 high); leaves oval or ovate, cut-toothed toward the apex; _corymbs large, flat_, several times compound; _flowers white_. (S. corymbosa, _Raf._)--Mountains of Penn. and N. J. to Ga., west to Ky. and Mo.

2. S. saliciflia, L. (COMMON MEADOW-SWEET.) _Nearly smooth_ (2--3 high); leaves wedge-lanceolate, simply or doubly serrate; _flowers in a crowded panicle_, white or flesh-color; pods smooth.--Wet or low grounds, Newf. to the mountains of Ga., west to Minn. and Mo.; also to the far northwest. (Eu.)

3. S. tomentsa, L. (HARDHACK. STEEPLE-BUSH.) _Stems and lower surface of the_ ovate or oblong serrate _leaves very woolly_; flowers in short racemes crowded in a dense panicle, rose-color, rarely white; pods woolly.--Low grounds, N. Scotia to the mountains of Ga., west to Minn.

and Kan.

-- 2. ULMaRIA. _Perennial herbs, with pinnate leaves and panicled cymose flowers; stipules kidney-form; pods 5--8, 1--2-seeded._

4. S. lobata, Jacq. (QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE.) Glabrous (2--8 high); leaves interruptedly pinnate; the terminal leaflet very large, 7--9-parted, the lobes incised and toothed; panicle compound-cl.u.s.tered, on a long naked peduncle; flowers deep peach-blossom color, handsome, the petals and sepals often in fours.--Meadows and prairies, Penn. to Ga., west to Mich., Ky., and Iowa.

-- 3. ARuNCUS. _Perennial herbs, with dicious whitish flowers in many slender spikes, disposed in a long compound panicle; leaves thrice pinnate; stipules obsolete; pods 3--5, several-seeded; pedicels reflexed in fruit._

5. S. Aruncus, L. (GOAT'S-BEARD.) Smooth, tall; leaflets thin, lanceolate-oblong, or the terminal ones ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed, sharply cut and serrate.--Rich woods, N. Y. and Penn. to Ga. in the mountains, west to Iowa and Mo.

3. PHYSOCaRPUS, Maxim. NINE-BARK.

Carpels 1--5, inflated, 2-valved; ovules 2--4. Seeds roundish, with a smooth and s.h.i.+ning crustaceous testa and copious alb.u.men. Stamens 30--40. Otherwise as Spiraea.--Shrubs, with simple palmately-lobed leaves and umbel-like corymbs of white flowers. (Name from f?sa, _a bladder_, and ?a?p??, _fruit_.)

1. P. opuliflius, Maxim. Shrub 4--10 high, with long recurved branches, the old bark loose and separating in numerous thin layers; leaves roundish, somewhat 3-lobed and heart-shaped; the purplish membranaceous pods very conspicuous. (Spiraea opulifolia, _L._ Neillia opulifolia, _Benth. & Hook._)--Rocky banks of streams, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Mo., and the Pacific northward. Often cultivated.

4. GILLeNIA, Moench. INDIAN PHYSIC.

Calyx narrow, somewhat constricted at the throat, 5-toothed; teeth erect. Petals 5, rather unequal, linear-lanceolate, inserted in the throat of the calyx, convolute in the bud. Stamens 10--20, included.