DRUPACEAE 213 



The species of Pntniis (in the broader sense) range in size 

 from shrubs to trees. Most of them have edible fruits, and in 

 some species (prunes, pkims, cherries) this has l)een developed by 

 cultivation in an important commercial product. The ash of the 

 trees is said to be exceptionally poor in silica, but just what this 

 signifies is not clear. Most if not all of the species grow only in 

 places pretty well protected from fire.* 



Prunus Americana, Marsh. 



Wild (or Canada) Plum. Prairie Plum. 



A small tree, usually only a few inches in diameter and about 

 ten feet tall, with rough flaky brownish bark a little different in 

 color from that of any other native plum, by means of which it is 

 easily recognized in winter. It blooms in March and April, and 

 ripens its fruit in late summer. The fruit is hardly fit to eat 

 when raw, but can be made into preserves; and it is said to be 

 capable of improvement by cultivation. The tree is said to make 

 an excellent stock for grafting exotic plums onto, and it is some- 

 times cultivated for ornament. 



Grows in rich woods, especially on limestone outcrops and 



in calcareous flatwoods. Nowhere abundant. 



lA (?). Lauderdale County (Mohr). 



IB. Colbert. Madison, Marshall and Blount Counties. 



2A. Cullman County (Mohr). 



2B. Tuscaloosa County. 



3. Jefferson, Bibb, Shelby and Talladega Counties. 



4. Clay County (Mohr). 



7. Pickens, Sumter, Greene, Autauga and Bullock Counties. 

 low. Wilcox County. 



Prunus lanata (Sudw.) Mackenzie and Bush. 



A species closely related to the preceding, and perhaps easily 

 confused with it. Its known range is chiefly from Indiana to 

 Texas (something like the pecan), but Wolf finds it in Cullman 

 County, and Prof. Cocks reports it as common near Hatcher's 

 Bluff in Dallas County. 



Prunus hortiilana, Bailey, a species originally described from culti- 

 vated specimens, and still not well understood, was reported by Dr. Mohrf 

 from shell banks in the southern part of Mobile County (region 15) ; but 

 according to Wight and others its range is entirely north and west of Ala- 

 bama ; so it is very likely that Dr. Mohr mistook something else for it. 



*See Rhodora 18:201-203. Sept. 1916. 



fBull Torrey Bot. Club. 26:118. 1899; Plant Life of Ala., p. 551. 



