DRUPACE.E PLUM FAMILY 



THE PLUM 



Primus. 

 Prunus is the ancient Latin name of the plum-tree. 



The genus Primus belongs to the Drupe-bearing fam- 

 ily, which is so named because the fruit of every mem- 

 ber from highest to lowest is a drupe ; that is, a simple 

 stone fruit, of which the plum and the cherry are ex- 

 cellent examples. The individuals are either trees or 

 shrubs. 



Within the range covered by this volume are several 

 native and two naturalized Prunus shrubs, growing on 

 barrens, sea-beaches, sandy hillsides, or gravelly ridges. 

 The flowers have a marked family resemblance; they 

 suggest tiny roses, white or pink, and are usually borne 

 in clusters. They are produced from separate, lateral, 

 scaly buds which were formed the autumn before, and 

 they either precede the leaves or appear with them. 

 The characters common to the flowers of all members 

 of the genus are : A calyx with an urn-shaped tube 

 and a five-lobed spreading border which falls after 

 flowering; a corolla of five petals which are inserted 

 on the throat of the calyx-tube ; many stamens, also 

 inserted on the throat of the calyx-tube ; and finally the 



107 



