PLANTS OP SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY. 491 



PRUNUS L. 



Prunus americana Marsh. Wild Plum. 



Prunus americana Marshall, Arb. Am. iii. 1785 [Eastern U. S.]. — Knieskern 

 13. — Willis 19. — Britton 91. 



Thickets, usually along* streams; frequent in the northern 

 counties; occasional southward in the Middle district. 

 FL — Late April to mid-May, before or with the leaves. 



Middle District. — New Egypt, Pensauken (S), Kaighns Pt., Albion, 

 Mullica Hill, Mickleton, Swedesboro, Yorktown, Bridgeton. 



Prunus angustifolia Marsh. Chickasaw Plum. 



Prunus angustifolia Marshall, Arb. Am. iii. 1785 [Southern States]. — 



Keller and Brown 192. 

 Prunus Chicasa Britton 91. 



This southern species was discovered by Mr. Albert Commons 

 on the banks of the Delaware River in loose drifting sands, 

 three miles south of Pennsgrove, in Salem County. Dr. Britton 

 regards it as "adventive from the southwest" in his Catalogue, 

 but as the species is now known to occur native from Delaware 

 to Florida and Texas, its presence here would seem to be quite 

 natural and in line with the distribution of several other Austro- 

 riparian species. 



Middle District.— Fenns Grove (NB). 



Prunus maritima Wang. Beach Plum. 



Prunus maritima Wangenheini, Am. 103. 1781 [Long Island, N. Y.]. — 

 Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. I. 332. 1814.— Knieskern 13. — Willis 19.— Britton 

 91. — Keller and Brown 192. 



Most plentiful along tlie dunes and sands of the Coastal strip; 

 occasional in the Pine Barrens, usually along the tide water 

 streams, and locally on sandy ground in the Middle district. 

 Not recorded in New Jersey north of our limits. 



This is the most comttnon wild plum of southern New Jersey, 

 and its fruit, though not as fine as the larger P. am'ericana, is 

 well flavored. The bushes average about three feet in height, 

 and sometimes form thickets of considerable size, as about 

 Cape May Point. In early spring the feathery white blossoms 

 appear before the leaves, but the spikes are not so showy as the 

 purer white blossoms of the Chokeberry and Shad-bush. 



