Prunus maritima Marshall

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Rosaceae

• Scientific Name

  Prunus maritima Marshall

• Description

  Species Description - Straggling shrub 1–2.5 m, rarely arborescent and to 4 m; lvs firm, oblong or elliptic, 4–7 cm, half as wide, obtuse or acute, broadly cuneate to obtuse at base, finely serrate with broadly triangular to semicircular, abruptly acuminate teeth, rugose above, finely and rather roughly hairy beneath; pedicels 5–10 mm, finely hairy; hypanthium pubescent; sep oblong, 2.5 mm, finely hairy; pet obovate, 5–6 mm, cuneate at base; fr glaucous, purplish-black to sometimes red or yellow, subglobose, 1.5 cm; stone turgid, truncate at base; 2n=16. Dunes and sandy soil near the coast; N.B. to Md., occasionally extending some distance inland; c. Mich. May. (P. gravesii, a single unusual clone-colony in Conn., with small, subrotund lvs)

• Common Names

  beach-plum