ROSACE^E 



Prunus: ancient Latin name of the plum-tree. 

 Maritima: Latin for seaside. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Commons. 



THE BUSH OR SHRUB: low, one foot to seven feet high, 

 much branched, not thorny; bark reddish-grey and smooth. 



THE LEAVES: dark green; oval, ovate, or obovate; older 

 ones with short, soft hairs beneath; acutish or acute at 

 the apex; rounded at the base; finely and sharply saw- 

 toothed. 



THE FLOWERS: medium-sized, appearing before the leaves 

 or at the same time as the very young leaves; borne without 

 stems in umbels; the five petals, falling early, allow the 

 prominent stamens to give a slightly pinkish cast; calyx 

 five-divided; stamens numerous. 



THE FRUIT: a globose, purple drupe, sometimes an inch 

 in diameter, puckery when unripe, sweet, with a tang 

 when mature. Drupe covered with a bloom; stone a 

 little flattened, usually pointed at both ends. 



A low and straggly shrub, that grows mostly in groups 

 on the Commons. When in bloom or in fruit, it is more 

 conspicuous; at other times the leaves are dark green and 

 the bush somewhat resembles the bayberry. But both 

 the flowers and the plums are beautiful; the one (coming 

 when the new leaves are only partially grown), of a deli- 

 cate flesh colour, with heavier-tinted stamens; the other 

 (when ripe) a large luscious-looking purple. From this fruit 

 is made the famous beach-plum jam and jelly that claret 

 red jelly with a wild tang. The yellow or amber fruit, 

 that does occur on some bushes makes a lighter coloured 

 jelly. So far the plums have not been improved by culti- 

 vation, although various attempts have been made along 

 that line. 



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