A STUDY IN PLANT VARIATION 255 



Leaf buds smaller, more pointed, dark gray, and terminal, 

 bursting when the bush is in full bloom. 



Leaf Scar Crescent shaped, with three small inconspicuous fibro- 

 vascular bundle scars. 



Leaf Ovate, 5.5 cms. long and 2.3 cms, wide, petiole .7 cm. long, 



apex acute, finely and sharply serrate wtih small dark 

 brown glandular teeth; rounded and biglandular at the 

 base with two dark brown stalked glands; pubescent along 

 midrib and primary veins above, very pubescent below 

 along midrib, primary veins and cross veins; stipules lobes, 

 glandular-serrate and early deciduous. At maturity thick 

 and firm, dark green above, paler below. 



Flower Appearing from April 20 to May 5, slightly before the 



leaves, 10 to 15 mm. broad on pubescent pedicels, 10 mm. 

 in length, in 2 to 4 flowered umbels, sepals ovate, rounded 

 at the apex, pinkish along the margins, pubescent, calyx 

 tube campanulate 2 mm. deep, glandular on the inner 

 surface, pubescent on the outer, petals white turning 

 pinkish on fading, ovate, rounded at the apex, contracted 

 at the base into short claws; stamens 25, from 5 to 10 

 mm. long, glabrous turning pinkish on fading, inserted 

 on the calyx tube; style 12 mm. long, glabrous with trun- 

 cate stigma, carpels simple, ellipsoid, glabrous. 



Fruit Ripening August 1 to 20, of a deep blue black color, spheri- 



cal or slightly flattened at the blossom end, 11.5 x 12.5 

 mm. covered with a light waxen bloom, flecked with num- 

 erous light colored spots; weight 1.1 to 1.6 grams, flesh 

 of a watery green color, pulp free from the stone, sweet 

 and pleasant, layer of tannin beneath the skin; stone oval 

 to rounded, reddish in color, 7.8 mm. long and 6.5 x 5.4 

 mm. thick, weight .10 to .15 grams, ridged on the ventral, 

 slightly grooved on the dorsal suture. 



4. Prunus maritima Var. purpurea magna 

 (Large Purple) 



Form A low spreading bush 3 to 6 feet high, forming dense 



thicket like patches; branching rather regular and erect, 

 with numerous spinescent lateral branches, general ap- 

 pearance less gnarled and stunted in its habit of growth. 



