Trets of Xew York State 263 



ROSACEAE 



Prunus domestica L. [Prunus communis Huds.] 



Plum 



Habit — A small tree attaining a height of 20-25 feet with a trunk diameter 

 of 5-8 inches, or many times shrubby and forming extensive thickets. 

 Trunk short, dividing 4-8 feet above the ground in stout, ascending limbs 

 and many spreading, slender, slightly drooping branches to form a low, 

 rounded crown. 



Leaves — Alternate, varying greatly in form from ovate or oval to obovate, 

 2-3% inches long, broadly acute at the apex, cuneate at the base, coarsely 

 and irregularly serrate, at maturity thick, firm, dull dark green and some- 

 Avhat rougose above, piile, soft pubescent below, borne on stout petioles 

 i/o-l inch long. 



Flowers — Appearing in April or May with the leaves, perfect, about 1 inch 

 broad, borne solitary or in 2-3-flowered, umbellate clusters from lateral 

 buds on the growth of the preceding season. Calyx-tube cup-shaped, green, 

 glabrous, 5-lobed, the lobes ovate, acute, reflexed after anthesis. Petals 

 white, oval or obovate, rounded at the apex, short-clawed at the base, 

 inserted with the stamens on the calyx-tube. Stamens about 30, with 

 filiform filaments and oval anthers. Pistil green, glabrous, consisting of 

 a 1-celled ovary, a long, filamentous style, and capitate stigma. 



Fruit — A drupe, very variable in size, shape and color, ripening during 

 August. It is commonly about an inch long, glaucous, and blue or bluish 

 black in color. Stone large, slightly roughened, prominently grooved on 

 one side. 



Winter characters — T^^^gs rather stout, pubescent at least at first, reddish 

 to grayish brown. Lateral spinulose spurs often present. Terminal bud 

 absent. Lateral buds ovate, acute, appressed light brown, about ^/4 of an 

 inch long. Mature bark thin, grayish or brownish black, breaking up into 

 large, thin, persisting plates. 



Habitat — Prefers rich, moist soil but grows on a variety of sites about the 

 habitations of man, along roads and fences, and borders of woods, often 

 forming extensive thickets. 



Range — Point of origin obscure but probably originally from the region of 

 the Caucasus. It is held by some that P. domestica never existed in the 

 wild form but that it is purely a horticultural species. Now widely cul- 

 tivated in the Old and New World, often becoming an "escape." Zones 

 A, B, and 0. 



Uses — The source of the "old time" or garden plums. Various ornamental 

 varieties, including the double-flowered and variegated-leaved forms are 

 propagated by nurserymen. The wood is hard, heavy, close-grained, red- 

 dish brown with pale sapwood. It is used abroad in cabinet work and 

 for trinkets. 



