62 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



51872 to 51885— Continued. 



is rugose like that of Rosa rugosa, and the foliage does <iot drop from 

 trees planted ou gravelly soil where there is less tlian half an inch 

 of rain in August. The trees at the Arnold Arboretum, now 20 years 

 old and 35 feet high, have never been attacked by borers, and the leaves 

 apparently have no attraction for any leaf -eating catei*pillar. The fruit- 

 ing catkins, 7 to 10 inches long, remain on the trees until September 

 without opening. It is one of the few large exotic trees with deciduous 

 leaves which can be recommended for general planting in the Northern 

 States. (Adapted from Garden Magazine, vol. 29, p, 38.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 49041. 



51878. Prunus AMERICANA LAN ATA Sudworth. Amygdalacecc. Plum. 

 Seeds of a thorny tree, 3 to 12 meters high, with ovate-serrate, very 



veiny leaves ; the leaves, petioles, and shoots are covered with a dense, 

 pale tomentum. Occurring sparsely in Texas on the San Antonio River 

 and its tributaries, where the fruit is said to be yello*^ and less than 

 12 millimeters in diameter, (Adapted from Contributions from the U. 8. 

 National Herbarium, vol. 2, p. 102.) 



51879. Prunus hortulana Bailey. Amygdalaceae. Wildgoose plum. 



Seeds of a vigorous tree, attaining a height of 30 feet or more, the 

 shaggy trunk sometimes a foot in diameter, becoming furrowed in age. 

 The bark is gray-brown, thick, and contains deposits of red cork cells 

 which show as bright-red blotches or as thick layers when the bark 

 is sectioned. The branches are very spreading and open, twiggy, slender, 

 and thorny. The thin, peachlike leaves, 5 inches long and If inches 

 wide, become leathery, smooth, and glossy above and almost glabrous 

 below except for the pubescent veins. The white, ill-scented flowers, 

 three-fourths of an inch across, borne on very long spurs, open after 

 the leaves expand and bloom later than any other cultivated plum. 

 The clingstone fruit ripens very late, is globose, oval, and 1 inch in 

 diameter. The thick, tough, and astringent skin is yellow to red with 

 small conspicuous dots. The golden-yellow, coarse, firm, juicy flesh 

 is strongly aromatic, and mildly sweet. The tree is found wild in 

 Illinois, western Kentucky, western Tennessee, Missouri, northern 

 Arkansas, Oklahoma, and southeastern Kansas. (Adapted from Hedr 

 rick, Flums of New York, p. 64-) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I.^No. 41704. 



51880. Prunus mexicana S. Wats. Amygdalaceae. Plum. 

 Seeds of a plant with its young branches, pedicels, and petioles canes- 

 cent with a short dense subtomentose pubescence. The leaves, 2 to 3 

 inches long, are oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, rounded at the base, 

 acutely toothed, puberulent above, pubescent and lighter colored beneath. 

 The compressed-ovate fruits are on short fascicled pedicels. Found at 

 Lerios, Coahuila, Mexico. (Adapted from Proceedings of the American 

 Academy, vol. 11, p. 3S3.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 32458. 



51881. Prunus munsoniana Wight and Hedrick. Amygdalaceae. Plum. 

 Seeds of a tree, 20 to 30 feet high, with grayish bro\vn bark, shaggy 



and furrowed, and spreading, slender, zigzag branches, little or not at 

 all thorny. The leaves, bright green and lustrous above, are dull green 

 below, and the lower surfaces of the veins are pubescent ; the leaves are 

 lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 4 inches long and 1^ inches wide, with 

 finely serrate margins. The white flowers, three-fourths of an inch 

 across, appear before or with the leaves, late in the season, on lateral 

 spurs. The globose, bright currant-red, clingstone fruits, an inch in 

 diameter with conspicuous whitish dots, ripen early and have yellow, , 

 juicy, melting flesh which is fibrous, sweetish, aromatic, and good. The 

 fruit ships and keeps well considering the juiciness of most of the 

 varieties. One of the best known plums for home and market use; ' 

 they have a sprightly vinous flavor and are pleasant to eat either out I 



