169 



WILD PLUM. 

 Primus americana, Marshall. 



FORM A small tree from 9-30 ft. high with a diameter of 6-12 inches. Trunk short, bearing 

 many wide-spreading, often drooping branches forming a deep and rather broad crown. 



BARK At first with a smooth grayish-brown bark, later becoming rough like the Wild 

 Cherry by breaking up into thin dark brown plates. 



TWIGS Bather stout, at first hairy and light green, later smooth and reddish-brown, covered 

 with a few roundish Ifcuticels. Twigs often bear numerous spur-like spines. 



BUDS Alternate; terminal one absent; about J of an inch long, broadly conical, sharp- 

 pointed, brown, covered with numerous triangular scales which are pale and hairy along the 

 margin. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, 1J-4 Inche's long, narrowly-obovate, taper-pointed at apex, 

 usually rounded at base, sharply and doubly serrate on margin, firm, dark green, and rough 

 above, palor and hairy below. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, more than 2-ranked, broadly crescent-shaped, with 3 conspicuous 

 bundle-scars. 



FLOWERS Appear about May when the leaves are i developed. They are perfect, white, 

 1 inch across, occur on slender smooth stalks arranged in 2-5-flowered umbels. 



FRUIT Matures in late summer or early autumn. It is a subglobose drupe becoming red 

 at full maturity, about 1 inch in diameter, with a thick tough skin and a flattened oval stone. 



WOOD Diffuse-porous; herd, heavy, strong, close-grained, reddish-brown, shiny, with thin 

 sapwood. Weighs about 16 Ibs. per cubic foot. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Wild Plum also known as the Wild Yellow 

 Plum and Red Plum, can be distinguished from the other members of this genus here described 

 by the absence of a terminal bud, by the characteristic bitter aromatic taste of the twigs 

 and by its red globose fruit about 1 inch in diameter, covered with a thick tough skin and 

 containing a smooth oval flattened stone. Another species of Plum known as Porter's Plum or 

 Sloe (Prunas alleghaaieusis), is native to this State. It is distinguished by its purple fruit 

 which is usually covered with a bloom, rarely over | of an inch in diameter and seldom spiny. 



RANGE New York south to Florida, westward to Montana, Colorado, and Texas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Found locally throughout the State. Most common in 

 the southeastern and southern parts, present but rarer in other parts. 



HABITAT Prefers rather moist rich soil. Common along banks of streams and borders of 

 woods. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This small tree is of no commercial importance on account 

 of the timber which it produces, but it forms an excellent stock upon which to graft the 

 Domestic Plum. It responds very readily to the attention which a gardener may give to it. 

 The fruit is used for preserves and jellies. It is attractive ornamentally on account of its 

 fine form, beautiful foliage, and profusion of attractive flowers. 



