Prunus maritima
Prunus domestica
beach plum
common garden plum, cultivated plum, European plum, prunier damas
with axillary end buds, densely hairy to glabrate.
with axillary end buds, usually hairy, sometimes glabrous.
deciduous;
petiole 3–11 mm, usually densely hairy, rarely hairy only on adaxial surface, usually eglandular, sometimes glandular distally, glands 1–2, discoid;
blade elliptic, broadly elliptic, or obovate (orbiculate in gravesii clone), 3.5–7 × 2–4 cm, base cuneate to obtuse (rounded in gravesii clone), margins finely, usually singly, rarely doubly, serrulate, teeth sharp, usually eglandular, rarely glandular, apex acute to obtuse (rounded in gravesii clone), abaxial surface usually hairy, sometimes only on veins or glabrescent, adaxial rugose, glabrous.
deciduous;
petiole 6–20 mm, glabrous or hairy on adaxial surface or both surfaces, eglandular or glandular distally or on margins at bases of blades, glands 1–3;
blade elliptic to obovate, (2.5–)4–7(–9) × 1.5–5 cm, base cuneate to obtuse, margins singly to doubly crenate-serrate, teeth blunt, glandular, apex usually acute to abruptly acuminate, sometimes obtuse, abaxial surface hairy (especially along veins), adaxial glabrous or midribs hairy.
2–4-flowered, umbellate fascicles.
solitary flowers or 2-flowered fascicles.
5–15 mm, hairy.
(2–)10–20 mm, glabrous or hairy.
blooming before leaf emergence;
hypanthium campanulate, 2.5–3.5 mm, hairy externally;
sepals erect to spreading, ovate, 1.5–3.5 mm, margins entire, sometimes 2-fid at apices, ciliate, surfaces hairy;
petals white, oblong-obovate, 3–8 mm;
ovaries glabrous.
blooming before or at leaf emergence;
hypanthium cupulate, 3–5 mm, glabrous externally;
sepals spreading to reflexed, ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, 3.5–6 mm, margins glandular-toothed, ciliate, surfaces glabrous or hairy;
petals white, oblong to suborbiculate, 7–14 mm;
ovaries glabrous.
red, yellow, dark blue, or purplish black, glaucous, globose, 11–18 mm, glabrous;
mesocarps fleshy;
stones ovoid, slightly flattened.
blue-black (green, yellow, or red in cultivars), ellipsoid to globose, 15–35 mm, glabrous;
mesocarps fleshy;
stones ovoid to ellipsoid, strongly flattened.
= 16.
= 48.
Prunus maritima
Prunus domestica
Prunus gravesii has been known from only a single locality since its description in 1897, and there may never have been more than a single, multistemmed individual. G. J. Anderson (1980) concluded that it is a mutant derivative of P. maritima. In the study by Anderson, it differed with statistical significance from other specimens of P. maritima for only 4 of 38 morphological features measured, and even for those four the range in values between the two taxa overlapped. Their leaf flavonoid chromatograms were identical. From a conservation standpoint it is of value to designate the orbiculate-leaved gravesii clone as a distinct taxonomic variety, for which the name P. maritima var. gravesii (Small) G. J. Anderson is available. Once listed by the state of Connecticut as endangered, it is now believed to be extinct in the wild. Throughout much of its original range P. maritima is threatened by oceanside development.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The distinctions given in the literature between Prunus domestica and P. insititia, and which cultivated varieties are derived from each of them, are contradictory and confusing. After examining plants from North America, it seems best to treat these Eurasian introductions as one variable species without designation of infraspecific taxa.
European plums are grown along the West Coast, primarily in California, for prunes and other processed food. They are also grown in the Great Lakes region of Ontario, Michigan, and New York for both prunes and the local fresh market. Most of the commercial fresh plum market is supplied by fruits of the Japanese plum, Prunus salicina, and its hybrid derivatives, which include genetic material from native American species, for example, P. americana, P. angustifolia, and P. hortulana.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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