65 



P RUN US, 



PLUM TREE, 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



The PLUM TREE is a medium-sized tree that while it's still young puts out straight & 



vigorous branches that create a very pleasing habit. But it soon becomes disfigured 

 because its fragile branches break under the weight of its fruit or give way to the force of 

 the wind, & all that's left is a distorted, damaged, irregular, and shapeless tree. 



Inside the buds the leaves are folded on top of one another. They're simple and are 

 attached alternately on the branch by thick, stiff, & short stalks. They're ovoid in shape 

 and come to a point at both ends. They're fairly large & the denticulation on the margins 

 is more or less deep, blunt, &c. depending on the type. The outer side of the leaf is 

 accentuated with prominent veins & the inner side is scored with deep grooves 

 corresponding to the veins making the surface rough & uneven. 



The flower consists of 1°. a calyx in a single unit, concave like a shallow cup and 

 divided at its margin into five oval sections that are hollowed spoonlike and sometimes 

 are reflexed onto the cup. 2°. five white petals arranged like a rose. Their size & shape 

 differ according to the type. Sometimes they're hollowed spoonlike. 3°. twenty to thirty 

 white stamens that terminate in yellow tips. 4°. a pistil 



