N^ATIVE AMEEICAN SPECIES OE PBUKUS. 27 



It has been suggested by Tuckerman (35, p. 99) in his comments 

 on the plants mentioned by Josselyn in 1672, that the followino- 

 reference to plums by that author included Prunus americana as well 

 as P. maritima : 



Plumb Tree, several kinds, bearing some long, round, white, yellow, red, and black 

 pliims; all differing in their Fruit from those in England. 



Nevertheless, all the colors described except white occur in P. 

 maritima, and it is doubtful if P. americana is indigenous to eastern 

 Massachusetts. It is therefore quite possible that Josselyn had seen 

 only P. maritima. 



HorticulturaUy, Pimnus americana is one of the most important 

 species and has probably received the greatest attention. A large 

 number of varieties have been named, and these have originated 

 almost entirely in the Middle West, where the fruit apparently is of 

 better quahty than is the case in the eastern part of its range. Most 

 of the varieties also show an elongated stone, but since a larger 

 fruit is ahnost invariably accompanied by a larger and longer stone, 

 this does not necessarily indicate a distinct form, as might be inferred 

 from a study of cultivated material alone. In this connection, 

 L. H. Bailey (2, p. 3) says: 



Notwithstanding its wide range, most of its cultivated varieties have come from its 

 northwest limits, as northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas. 

 This fact is an indication that the western plum may be a distinct species from the 

 eastern and southwestern types, and I should not be surprised if we ultimately find 

 this to be true. I liave looked in vain, however, for characters with which to separate 

 them. 



Among the varieties belonging to this species may be mentioned the 

 following: Advance, Atkins, Blackhawk, Brittlewood, Crescent City, 

 Deep Creek, De Soto, Eaton, Forest Garden, Hawkeye, Hunt, Iowa 

 Beauty, MoUie, Ocheeda, Stoddard, and Weaver. 



Peunus Americana Hybrids. 



Among cultivated varieties there are apparently several hybrids of 

 Prunus americana with P. trijlora (PL XIII, fig. 9) and a smaller num- 

 ber with P. angustifolia watsoni, P. hesseyi, P. hortulana, P. hortulana 

 mineri, P. munsoniana, P. pumila, P. simonii, and X P. utahensis 

 (P. hesseyi X angustifolia watsoni). (PL XIII, fig. 14.) Some of 

 these show much promise horticulturaUy for some sections of the West. 



Prunus Americana Lanata Rudworth. 



Prunus americana hauiUi Sudw., 1897, U. S. I)(;pt. Agr., Div. Forestry Bui. II, 



p. 237. 

 Prunus anwuuina mollis Torr. and Gray, 1840, Fl. N. Amer., v. 1, p. ^07, in ])iut. 

 Prunus Unuita Ma<.-k<-nz. and BuhH, 1902, Man. Fl. .Tac;kHon (Jo., Mo., [). 109. 



