( 132) 



In outline the leaf-blades are oval, sharp-pointed at the 

 base and similarly shaped at the tip. The lower quarter 

 of the leaf-margin is mostly quite smooth, but from this 

 point upwards the margins are conspicuously but finely 

 double-toothed. Towards the tip the teeth often give way 

 to distinct lobes. The many-flowered clusters of blossoms 

 make the tree very attractive for planting. These are fol- 

 lowed by the fruits which ripen about September. In out- 

 line the fruits are almost perfectly round. Imbedded in the 

 sweet, pulpy, yellow flesh are 2 or 3 stones that are con- 

 spicuously and deeply pitted. 



Wild Yellow Plum Prunus Americana 



A tree sometimes reaching a height of 35 feet. The 

 numerous branches are wide spreading and armed with 

 prickly spurs. On the trunk the bark is split up into dark 

 brown plates and on the branches it is reddish and smoother. 

 The elliptic-oval leaves are from 2 to 5 inches long, rounded 

 at the base and rather sharp-pointed at the tip. The leaf- 

 margins are finely but sharply toothed. On the upper side 

 the leaf-blade is dark green and smooth while the lower 

 surface is paler and hairy, at least on the nerves or veins. 



In May the tree is covered with the profusion of white 

 flowers that has occasioned its popularity for decorative 

 planting. The fruit follows, maturing about the middle of 

 September. It is not quite round, about 1 inch in diameter 

 and orange or bright red in color. The acid, yellow flesh is 

 not much used, except for preserving, and imbedded in it is 

 the oval, flattened stone. 



The tree grows naturally from New York to Florida and 

 westward. In the Hudson Valley it is more common 

 towards the southern end than northward. Beyond its deco- 

 rative value and the use of the fruits for preserves, the wild 

 yellow plum is of little economic importance. 



The common garden plum (Prunus domestica) grows 

 wild in the Hudson Valley only as an escape from cultivation. 

 The flowers appear in April or May with the leaves and its 

 well-known fruit is too familiar to need description. 



