46 FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



fruit resembling the wild plum, is frequently seen; 

 this is the beach plum (Prunus maritima). It is a 

 straggling bush which flourishes in the sand of the 

 seashore and bears dull-red, tough-skinned, sour fruit 

 fit only for preserving. The white flowers appear 

 before the leaves ; these are thick, veiny, and sharply 

 toothed when mature. Another species 

 related to the beach plum is the 

 dwarf or sand cherry 

 (Prunus pumila). But 

 this is generally found 

 on sandy river banks, 

 or in rocky, sandy places 

 along the coast. The flow- 

 ers are small and 

 grow in clusters of 

 from two to four; 

 they appear just after 

 the leaves, which are 

 thick, light-colored beneath, 



shaped somewhat like willow leaves, and toothed near 

 the apex. The fruit ripens in August, it is very 

 dark red or black, about the size of a wild cherry, 

 and sour or else insipid. This cherry is found as 

 far West and South as Kansas and Yirginia. It is 

 quite common on the banks of the Pemigewasset and 

 Merrimac Rivers, New Hampshire. 



Beach Plum. 



