THE PLUMS OF NEW YORK. 55 



The cultivated varieties of Prunus triflora are also very diverse as 

 regards tree -characters, especially as to vigor, hardiness and time of ma- 

 turity of the fruit. The differences seem to be horticultural or those 

 that come from cultivation, rather than botanical. Indeed, it seems im- 

 possible to place the numerous varieties in horticultural groups that 

 are marked with any great degree of definiteness. A distinction of groups 

 based on color is sometimes made, but the one character is insufficient 

 to have classificatory value. In Japan, according to Georgeson, a division 

 of the species is made with shape as the line of division. He says ' " The 

 round plums are designated by the term botankio, while those of an oval 

 or pointed shape are called hattankio." The varieties are sometimes loosely 

 grouped into yellow and red-fleshed sorts. A serviceable classification 

 would have to be founded on several or a considerable number of characters. 

 Such a classification at present is impossible. 



9. PRUNUS SIMONII Carriere 

 i. Carriere Rev. Hort. in. 1872.* 



Tree small, of medium vigor, upright, dense, hardy except in exposed locations, 

 unproductive; branches stocky, long, rough, thickly strewn with small lenticels; 

 branchlets slender, long, with internodes of medium length, reddish, glabrous; leaf- 

 buds intermediate in size, short, obtuse, free. 



Leaves folded upward, oblong-lanceolate to obovate, peach-like, narrow, 

 long, of medium thickness; upper surface dark green, smooth, shining, lower surface 

 pale green, not pubescent, with prominent midrib; margin slightly crenate; petiole 

 short, thick, faintly tinged red, often with four large globose glands on the stalk. 



Flower-buds numerous on one-year wood although found on spurs on the older 

 wood; flowers appearing very early, semi-hardy, small, pinkish-white; borne singly or in 

 pairs, often defective in pollen. 



Fruit maturing early; one and three-quarters by two and one-quarter inches in size, 

 strongly oblate, compressed; cavity deep, wide, flaring, regular, often slightly russeted; 

 suture variable in depth, frequently swollen near the apex which is flattened or strongly 

 depressed; dark red or purplish-red, overspread with waxy bloom; dots numerous, 

 small, dark colored, with russet center, inconspicuous; stem thick, characteristically 

 short being often one-quarter inch long; skin of medium thickness, tough, bitter, ad- 

 hering to the pulp; flesh rich yellow, medium juicy, tough, firm, very mild sub-acid 

 with a peculiar aromatic flavor; of fair quality; stone clinging, about seven-eighths inch 

 in diameter, roundish, flattened to rather turgid, truncate at the base, tapering abruptly 

 to a short point at the apex, with characteristic rough surfaces; ventral suture narrow, 

 acute or with distinct wing; dorsal suture very blunt or acute, not grooved. 



'Georgeson, C. C. Amer. Card. 12:74. 1891. 



* For references and synonymy see the Simon plum. 



