Shrub or small tree to 8 m, spreading from the roots and forming thickets; lvs obovate to obovate-oblong, usually somewhat hairy beneath, 6-l0 cm, abruptly and sharply acuminate, acute to obtuse at base, sharply and coarsely (often doubly) serrate, the teeth spreading or antrorse, acuminate, 1-2 mm, glandless but tending to have a callous point; petiole mostly glandless; fls 2-4 in an umbel; pet white, 10-15 mm; sep often pubescent on the upper side, often distally toothed, glandless or with a few very obscure glands; fr red to yellow, glaucous, 2-3 cm thick; stone compressed; 2n=16. Moist woods, roadsides and fence-rows; N.H. to Man. and Mont., s. to n. Fla. and Okla. May, June.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.