Trees of the Northern United States Part 19

Usually th.o.r.n.y trees with alternate, once to twice abruptly pinnate leaves. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish, in small spikes. Summer. Fruit a small or large pea-like pod, with one to many seeds; ripe in autumn, but often hanging on the trees through the winter.

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. triacanthos.]

1. =Gleditschia triacanthos=, L. (HONEY-LOCUST.) Leaflets lanceolate-oblong, somewhat serrate. Pods linear, 1 to 1 ft. long, often twisted, filled with sweet pulp between the seeds. A large, handsome, clean tree, with usually many stout, much-branched thorns, especially abundant on bruised portions of the trunk and large branches; thorns compressed at base. Wild from Pennsylvania southward and westward, and extensively cultivated throughout.

A variety without thorns is frequently met with (var. _inermis_), also one with drooping foliage (var. _Bujotii pendula_).

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. aquatica.]

2. =Gleditschia aquatica=, Marsh. (WATER-LOCUST.) Leaflets ovate or oblong. Pods oval, 1 to 4 in. long, 1- to few-seeded, without pulp. A small tree with few slender, usually simple thorns; in swamps in southern Illinois and south. Occasionally planted for ornament. This species is quite similar to the preceding one, but the leaves are somewhat smaller, the thorns, though occasionally branching, do not branch so extensively, and the pod is very short and rounded.

[Ill.u.s.tration: G. sinensis.]

3. =Gleditschia sinensis=, Lam. (CHINESE HONEY-LOCUST.) A tree with stouter and more conical thorns, broader and more oval leaflets. A medium-sized or small tree, often cultivated. This species, like the others, has a thornless variety.

GENUS =35. ALBiZZIA.=

Trees or shrubs with abruptly pinnate leaves. Fruit a broad-linear straight pod.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. julibrissin.]

=Albizzia julibrissin=, Boivin. (SILK-TREE.) Leaves twice abruptly pinnate, of many (over 400) leaflets; leaflets semi-oblong, curved, entire, acute, with the midrib near the upper edge. Flowers in globose heads forming panicles. Fruit plain pods on short stems. A very beautiful small tree, introduced from j.a.pan; probably not hardy north of Was.h.i.+ngton. The figure shows only one of the lowest and shortest side divisions (pinnae) of the leaf. The pinnae increase in length and number of leaflets to the end of the leaf.

ORDER =XVIII. ROSACEae.= (ROSE FAMILY.)

A large and very useful order of trees, shrubs, and herbs of temperate regions.

GENUS =36. PRuNUS.=

Trees or shrubs with simple, alternate, deciduous, usually serrate, stipulate leaves, without lobes. The stems produce gum when injured.

Foliage and nuts have flavor of peach-leaves. Flowers conspicuous, usually white, or light pink, often in cl.u.s.ters, peach-blossom-shaped; in early spring. Fruit in size from pea to peach, a rounded drupe with one stony-coated seed.

* Drupe large, soft velvety on the surface; stone rough (Peach, Apricot) 1.

* Drupe medium, covered with a bloom; stone smooth, flattened (Plums). (=A.=)

=A.= Usually th.o.r.n.y; wild, rarely cultivated. (=B.=)

=B.= Leaves ac.u.minate 2, 3.

=B.= Leaves not ac.u.minate 4, 5.

=A.= Not th.o.r.n.y; cultivated 6.

* Drupe medium to small, smooth, without bloom (Cherries).

(=C.=)

=C.= Drupes cl.u.s.tered in umbels, -1 in. in diameter. (=D.=)

=D.= Small cultivated tree; drupe globose, rather large, very sour 9.

=D.= Large cultivated tree; drupe large, somewhat pitted at the stem 8.

=D.= Rather small, native tree; drupe small, flesh thin 7.

=C.= Drupes cl.u.s.tered in racemes, 1/8 - 1/3 in. in diameter.

(=E.=)

=E.= Tall shrubs rather than trees; racemes short 11.

=E.= Trees; racemes quite elongated. (=F.=)

=F.= Stone of fruit somewhat roughened 12.

=F.= Stone smooth 10.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Persica.]

1. =Prunus Persica=, L. (COMMON PEACH.) Leaves lanceolate, serrate.

Flowers rose-colored, nearly sessile, very early in bloom. Fruit clothed with velvety down, large; stone rough-wrinkled. A small tree, 15 to 30 ft. high, cultivated in numberless varieties for its fruit. Var. _laevis_ (Nectarine) has smooth-skinned fruit.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Americana.]

2. =Prunus Americana=, Marsh. (WILD YELLOW OR RED PLUM.) Leaves ovate or somewhat obovate, conspicuously pointed, coa.r.s.ely or doubly serrate, very veiny, smooth when mature. Fruit with little or no bloom, to 1 in. in diameter, yellow, orange, or red; skin tough and bitter. Stone with two sharp edges. A small, th.o.r.n.y tree, 8 to 20 ft. high, common in woodlands and on river-banks. Many improved varieties, some thornless, are in cultivation. Wood reddish color.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Alleghaniensis.]

3. =Prunus Alleghaniensis=, Porter. (ALLEGHANY PLUM.) Leaves lanceolate to oblong-ovate, often long-ac.u.minate, finely and sharply serrate, softly p.u.b.escent when young, smooth when old; fruit globose-ovoid, under in., very dark purple, with a bloom; stone turgid, a shallow groove on one side and a broad, flat ridge on the other. A low, straggling bush, occasionally a tree, 3 to 15 ft. high. Mountains of Pennsylvania.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Chicasa.]

4. =Prunus Chicasa=, Michx. (CHICASAW PLUM.) Leaves long, narrow, almost lanceolate, acute, finely serrate, thin. Flowers on short stalks. Fruit globular, to 2/3 in. in diameter, thin-skinned, without bloom, yellowish-red, pleasant to taste. Stone globular, without sharp edges. A th.o.r.n.y shrub or small tree, 6 to 15 ft. high; wild in New Jersey, west and south, and often cultivated.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. spinsa.]

5. =Prunus spinsa=, L. (SLOE. BLACKTHORN. BULLACE PLUM.) Leaves obovate-oblong to lance-oblong, sharply serrate, soon smooth; leafstalk smooth; fruit small, globular, black, with a bloom; the stone rounded, acute at one edge; flesh greenish, astringent. A low tree with th.o.r.n.y branches; it is becoming naturalized along roadsides and waste places; from Europe. Var. _inst.i.titia_ (Bullace Plum) is less th.o.r.n.y, and has the leafstalk and lower side of the leaves p.u.b.escent.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. domestica.]

6. =Prunus domestica=, L. (COMMON GARDEN PLUM.) Leaves 1 to 3 in. long, oval or ovate-lanceolate, acute to obtuse. Flowers white, nearly solitary. Drupe globular, obovoid to ovoid, of many colors (black, white, etc.), covered with a rich glaucous bloom. A small tree, 10 to 20 ft. high, in cultivation everywhere for its fruit. Over a hundred varieties are named in the catalogues.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Pennsylvanica.]

7. =Prunus Pennsylvanica=, L. f. (WILD RED CHERRY.) Leaves oblong-lanceolate, pointed, finely and sharply serrate, s.h.i.+ning green, smooth on both sides. Flowers many in an umbel on long stems. Fruit round, light red, quite small, in. in diameter, sour. A small tree, 20 to 30 ft. high, in rocky woods; common north and extending southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina.