Page 148 - Forest Trees of Maine

PLUM

The Canada plum’s fruit,
which ripens in the latter
part of August, is edible.

C P Prunus nigra Ait.

anada or red plum, has been black knot fungus, Apiosporina morbosa.
C planted as an ornamental and is The bark is thin, dull reddish-
found occasionally throughout much of brown to black; it peels in thin papery
the state. It does not occur in densely scales, exposing the shiny reddish-
forested areas; rather it usually occurs in brown, inner bark.
thickets along field edges. It is seldom The leaves are alternate, obovate,
over 8 inches in diameter and 30 feet and taper at the apex to a long, sharp
high. The twigs and branches of cherry point. Leaves are dark green on the
and plum trees are distorted by the upper surface, lighter below; the mar-
gin has glandular, rounded teeth.
The flowers are white, and appear
early in spring before the leaves in
groups of three or four on slender
stalks.The edible fruit ripens the latter
part of August, is football-shaped and
furrowed along one side, and has an
orange-red skin and yellow flesh. The
single stone is flattened and slightly
grooved on the edges.
The twigs and branches often
have thorns. The buds are brown to
gray and are without hairs.The wood is
not used commercially.

AREA OF
OCCURRENCE
146 C AN AD A PL UM