P R U N U S Padus.
Bird Cherry.
ICOSANDRIA Monogynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5 -cleft, inferior. Pet. 5 . Slone of
the drupa with slightly prominent seams.
Spec. Char. Flowers in long pendulous clusters. Leaves
deciduous, with two glands on the under side at the
base.
Syn. Prunus Padus. Linn. Sp. PI. 677. Sm. FI. Brit.
526. Huds. 2 1 3 , With. 4 5 5 . Hull. 1 0 8 . Dicks.
H. Sicc.fasc. 18. 1 5 .
Cerasus Avium nigra et racemosa. Raii Syn. 4 6 3 .
T h e Bird Cherry forms a small tree, very ornamental in
May when covered with its light snowy blossoms, for the
sake of which it is sometimes allowed a place in gardens or
shrubberies. The small black bitter fruit ripens in June or
July, and is soon devoured by birds. The plant is common
in the north of England; less so in the south, Mr. Woods
gathered our specimen of the fruit at Temple Mills, Essex.
A singularity is observable in the stone of the drupa, which
is rugged, answering to the character of Amygdalus; not
smooth as it ought to be in Prunus. This confirms the
assertion of Gaertner, that no solid character exists between
these two genera.
The branches^ of the Bird Cherry are round and smooth.
Leaves obovate, pointed, serrated, smooth, veiny, a little
glaucous, with 2 glands at the base. Their smell is unpleasant,
somewhat like rue; and they, no doubt, possess the
poisonous qualities of their genus in an eminent degree. The
stipulae are linear, serrated, and soon fall off. Petals serrated;