liED OR REDDISH PURPLE 79 



near the apex as to form lobes. The under 

 surface is downy along the veins. 



Flowei^s. — The ill-scented white flowers grow 

 in leafy corymbs on downy flower stems. The 

 calyx lobes are likewise covered with down. 



This small tree has dark brown to gray bark 

 and sharp axillary thorns. It is quite widely 

 distributed throughout the country, but is not 

 so common in the Northern states. Central New 

 York contains flourishing growths of it. The 

 fruits cling to the tree until spring. 



WILD YELLOW OR RED PLUM 

 Prunus Americana Plum Family 



Fruit. — The fleshy drupe is yellow or reddish, 

 somewhat whitened with a bloom. It is globose, 

 with a slight depression at the tip. It grows 

 laterally on a stout, rather short, stem. The 

 skin is thick and tough, the flesh quite thick, 

 and the stone rather smooth, with quite sharp 

 edges. August, September. 



Leaves. — The ovate leaves are coarsely or 

 doubly serrate. They are nearly smooth, or 

 somewhat hairy along the veins on the lower 

 surface. The apex terminates in a long tip. 



