NATIVE AMERICAN SPECIES OF PRUNUS. 2 
It has been suggested by Tuckerman (85, p. 99) in his comments 
on the plants mentioned by Josselyn in 1672, that the following 
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 
plums; 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. mantiuma. 
Horticulturally, Prunus 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 quality 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 almost 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 tobe true. I have 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 “ity, 
Deep Creek, De Soto, Katon, Forest Garden, Hawkeye, Hunt, Iowa 
Beauty, Mollie, Ocheeda, Stoddard, and Weaver. 
Prunus AMERICANA HYBRIDS. 
Among cultivated varieties there are apparently several hybrids of 
Prunus americana with P. triflora (Pl. XIU, fig. 9) and a smaller num- 
ber with P. angustifolia watsom, P. besseyr, P. hortulana, P. hortulana 
mimeri, P. munsomana, P. pumila, P. simon, and x P. utahensis 
(P. besseyr X angustifolia watson). (Pl. XIII, fig. 14.) Some of 
_these show much promise horticulturally for some sections of the West. 
Prunus AMERICANA LANATA Sudworth. 
Prunus americana lanata Sudw., 1897, U.S. Dept. Agr., Div. Forestry Bul. 14, 
p. 237. 
Prunus americana mollis Torr. and Gray, 1840, Fl. N. Amer., v. 1, p. 407, in part. 
Prunus lanata Mackenz. and Bush, 1902, Man. Fl. Jackson Co., Mo., p. 109. 
