Prunus americana 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 americana Marshall

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub or small tree to 8 m, spreading from the roots and forming thickets; lvs obovate to obovate-oblong, usually somewhat hairy beneath, 6–l0 cm, abruptly and sharply acuminate, acute to obtuse at base, sharply and coarsely (often doubly) serrate, the teeth spreading or antrorse, acuminate, 1–2 mm, glandless but tending to have a callous point; petiole mostly glandless; fls 2–4 in an umbel; pet white, 10–15 mm; sep often pubescent on the upper side, often distally toothed, glandless or with a few very obscure glands; fr red to yellow, glaucous, 2–3 cm thick; stone compressed; 2n=16. Moist woods, roadsides and fence-rows; N.H. to Man. and Mont., s. to n. Fla. and Okla. May, June.

  • Common Names

    wild plum