173 



EOSACE^: EOSE FAMILY. OHEEEIES AND PLUMS. 



42.— Wild Yellow or Eed Plum. Canada Plum. Horse Plum. 

 {Priuius Americana^ Marshall.) 



A small thorny tree, abuDclant, and forming thickets in dry or moist 

 situations. It is seldom more than 15 to 30 feet high, with a diameter of 

 3 to 10 inches. In the Eocky Mountain region it is found chiefly in 

 central Colorado, but has a wide range through the eastern United 

 States and north of the boundary. It reaches its largest size in east- 

 ern Texas. The wood is heavy, very hard and tough, and is used oc- 

 casionally for fuel, light tool-stock, etc. The fruit is often large, edible, 

 and with a pleasant taste when fully matured. Sometimes cultivated 

 or used for grafting stock. 



IJescrijition. — Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, ovate, pointed, coarsely or finely toothed 

 on the margin ; smooth and with prominent veins when mature. Fruit somewhat 

 spherical to ovoid id shape, i to 1 inch in diameter ; dark, with reddish tinge and 

 yellowish areas. 



43.— Chickasaw Plum. Hog Plum. (Primus angustifolia,M3iTshdL\].) 



Supposed to be a native of the eastern slopes of the southern Eocky 

 Mountains, here found at elevations up to 7,000 feet. (But by cultiva- 

 tion it has become widely distributed eastward to the Atlantic coast, 

 south of Pennsylvania.) It is a small tree, 20 to 30 feet in height, with 

 a trunk 4 to 10 inches in diameter, or in some situations reduced to a 

 shrub. It prefers a rich, moist soil, and is found growing chiefly along 

 water-courses and the borders of rich woods. The wood is rather heavy, 

 but soft and brittle. Cultivated considerably for its fruit. 



Description. — Leaves 11 to 2 inches long, thin, smooth, lance-shaped, with fine, sharp, 

 incurved teeth on the margin. Fruit i^ to f of an inch in diameter (borne on short 

 stems), spherical, yellowish red, and with little bloom ; thin-skinned, sweetish. 

 Chiefly shrubby and inclined to be thorny. 



44.-«WiLD Eed Cherry. Pin Cherry. Pigeon Cherry. {Pruniis 



Pennsylvanica, Linn.) 



Cpmmonly a very small tree or shrub as it occurs in the Eocky Moun- 

 tains of Colorado. In its eastern range through northern and central 

 United States it becomes somewhat larger, but seldom more than 15 to 

 30 feet in height, and 6 to 12 inches in diameter. The wood is soft and 

 light, and where large enough is occasionally cut for fuel. Fruit used 

 sometimes for medicinal purposes. 



Description. — Leaves 2 to 3^ inches long, ovate, lance-shaped, long-pointed, finely 

 and sharply toothed on the margin ; thin, shiny, green above and below. Fruit 

 small, globular, very dark red; flesh scanty and sour. Bark reddish brown. 



45. — Oregon Cherry. (Pnimis emarginata^ Walpers.) 



A tree sometimes 20 to 30 feet in height, and 4 to 10 inches in diam- 

 eter, occurring abundantly along streams and in moist valleys of the 



