Difference between revisions of "Prunus"

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Prunus (ancient Latin name of plum). Rosaceae. The Stone-fruits, as Plum. Cherry. Peach, Nectarine, Apricot, Almond. Pink-flowered and white-flowered shrubs and trees of wide distribution, grown for fruit, and also for ornamental foliage and flowers.
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All woody plants: lvs. alternate, simple, usually serrate and more or less gland-bearing: fls. mostly in spring, sometimes preceding the leaves, either solitary or in clusters, perfect, the pistil single (more than 1 in abnormal forms) in a cupule or cup (usually designated the calyx-tube), the stamens numerous and perigynous, the petals and calyx-lobes 5: fr. a drupe, usually 1-seeded by the abortion of one of the 2 ovules. (Fig. 3213.)—The species are probably 175, mostly in the North Temperate zone, although a number of species are native in the Andean parts of S. Amer.
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The genus as here outlined includes several well- marked groups, some of which are regarded as distinct genera by many authors. In their extreme or typical forms, these subgenera are very distinct, but the group as a whole is well defined and nothing is contributed to clear definition by raising the groups into generic rank, and it is an advantage for easy reference to have all forms treated in one place rather than to scatter them under several different names. A marked group is Padus, with flowers in true racemes; and its ally, Laurocerasus, is also fairly well distinguished.
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Horticulturally, Prunus is one of the most interesting of all genera. It includes important orchard fruits,— peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and almonds. It is also prolific of ornamental subjects, as double-flowered, variegated-leaved, colored-leaved and weeping forms. Most of the cultivated species are hardy in the latitude of Philadelphia and many are hardy in Ontario. All are of easy culture. Nearly all the species are spring- flowering. Only P. Cerasus var. semperflorens, amongst the commoner kinds, blooms as late as midsummer. They are very useful for spring gardens, therefore, where they make great display, but their short season of bloom and the very ordinary foliage of most of them have limited the planting of the ornamental kinds. All members of the genus are easily grown.
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Some of the ornamental species are not grown on their own roots, but are worked on stocks that can be grown easily and cheaply and of which seeds can be secured in abundance. The commonest stocks for the ornamental kinds are the plum (P. domestica), peach, and sweet cherry. On the plum are grown the dwarf almonds and the double-flowering and fancy- foliage plums. The Myrobalan plum (P. cerasifera) is sometimes used for the same purpose. Peach stocks may be used for the same species, as a rule; and they are also employed, particularly in the South, for many fruit-bearing plums. The sweet cherry (P. avium) is a good stock for the various kinds of double-flowered, weeping and fancy-leaved cherries. It is an important point in the growing of these grafted prunuses to remove all sprouts from the stock as soon as they appear. This is particularly true of the dwarf almonds, since the stocks are usually stronger-growing species and tend to sucker from the root.
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In North America there has been a remarkable contemporaneous evolution of fruit-bearing plums from the native species. Several hundred orchard varieties have been described, and the trees are grown commercially over a wide range of country in the South, in the Mississippi Valley and on the Plains,—in regions in which the common Prunus domestica does not thrive. An interesting group of pubescent-fruited species of the Southwest may have horticultural importance in future. (See S. C. Mason, Journ. Agric. Research, 1913.)
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In Europe and Eurasia, the fruit-bearing cherries and plums had their original development, chiefly from the three species-groups, P. Cerasus, P. avium, and P. domestica. Ornamental forms are incidental or secondary. In North America, the horticultural development has been chiefly in edible forms of plums. In the Orient—farther Asia and the Chino-Japanese region—the peach and apricot groups probably had their origin, as well also as the fruit known to us as the Japanese plum; but Japan is noted for its cherries cultivated for bloom rather than for fruits. Only the indifferent P. Pseudo-Cerasus, among the cherries, is natively grown for fruit in China and Japan.
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The Japanese flowering cherries are singularly beautiful and attractive. They should be better known in this country. A number of forms have been long introduced and a few of them are advertised, but apparently they have not been carefully chosen as to hardiness and adaptability. David Fan-child reports that the trunks of the less vigorous forms of his ten-year-old collection in Maryland are sometimes winter-killed, especially on the southwest side, but there are many which, at least in Maryland, are hardy and form good-sized trees. The
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drooping single forms (P. subhirtella var. pendula.) are among the hardiest and most showy from a distance, but are surpassed by the wonderful double forms (P. serrulata) which produce great masses of flowers as beautiful and quite as large as many semi-double roses. The question of stock is important. In Europe, nurserymen have generally grafted the Japanese cherry on P. Cerasus and P. avium, as well as on the Mahaleb. Most of the specimens of the pendula varieties commonly seen are grafted high on one of these stocks, but the effect in old specimens is grotesque and the trees are shortlived. The Japanese grafted trees sent to this country
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are on a wild stock called the Mazakura (P. Lannesiana) which grows easily from cuttings and according to experiments made by the Department of Agriculture is almost immune to the cherry leaf-spot. As the grafting is at the surface of the ground, and as the trunks of the trees are the parts winter-killed, it is yet an open ques-tion as to whether the substitution of a longer-lived hardier stock would produce hardier longer-lived trees. E. H. Wilson, of the Arnold Arboretum, who has made a critical study of the Japanese cherries both in the Orient and at the Arboretum, thinks it will, and has suggested the trial for this purpose of P. serrulata var. sachalinensis. The Mazakura grows readily from cut- tings, but P. serrulata. var. sachalinensis does not. Budshave been successfully placed on the latter, and we shall be able to determine whether the stock transmits a greater longevity to them. With the tests being made by the Arnold Arboretum, the Department of Agricul-ture and in New York city, and the botanical studies of Wilson and Miyoshi, we should soon have a reliable planting of these very desirable oriental cherries. In anticipation of this, the names of many of the Japanese forms have been inserted in the following systematic account, although one may expect variations in the rendering of them into English.
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In very recent years, the knowledge of the genus has been greatly extended by explorations in China, whence many new species (particularly in the subgenera Cera- sus and Padus) have been derived that will probably find their way into cultivation. The taxonomy of the American native plums has also received much recent attention. Aside from the older writings of Bailey and Waugh on the native edible plums and cherries, see Hedrick,"The Plums of New York," 1911, and "The Cherries of New York," 1915 (also with similar accounts of all other pomological species), and Wight,"Varieties of Plums Derived from Native American Species," Bulletin No. 172, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, 1915, and "Native American Species of Prunus," Bulletin No. 179 (1915). For the oriental Prunus, particularly those native in China, see the work by Koehne and others in "Plantae Wilsonianae," vol. 1, 1911-1913, and Wilson's "Cherries of Japan" (1916), published by the Arnold Arboretum, Boston. As this writing is being closed in the printery, a paper on the Japanese cherries appears in Japan: Miyoshi, "Japanische Bergkirschen, in Journ. Coll.Sci. Tokyo, vol. 34, art. 1 (1916) with eighty-nine colored figures.
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Index.
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acida,          53. aureo-variegata,  77.  Cereola,              8.
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acuminata,      25. austera,          53.  Chamaecerasus,        52.
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acutifolia,      5. australis,    16, 70.  Chealii,              64.
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affinis,        56. autumnalis,      64.  Chicasa,              20.
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alabamensis,    70. avium,            54.  chrysocarpa,          46.
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alba,            34. asorica,          77.  cochin-chinensis,    29.
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albs-plena,  2, 32, Banriko,          56.  Cocomilia,            6.
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  33, 40.          Benden,          55.  colchica,            78. 
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Alberti,        74. Benitoranowo,    56.  communis,          8, 32.
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albida,          56. Bertinii,        78.  commutata,            74.
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albiflora,      34. Besseyi,          37.  compacta,        32, 46.
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albo-marginata,  46. Bigarella,        54.  Conradinae,          59.
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albo-rosea,      55. Blirieana,        5.  cornuta,              74.
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alleghaninensis, 23. borealis,    15, 49.  crassipes,            69.
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amabilis,        56. Botan,            9.  cryptopetala,          2.
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Amanogawa,      56. Botanzakura,      56.  cucullata,            53.
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amara,          32. bracteosa,        74.  cuneata,              36.
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Amayadori,      56. brigantiaca,      3.  Cupaniana,            46.
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ambigua,        58. camelliaeflora,  33.  Cuthbertii,          70.
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americana,      14. camelliaefolia,  77.  damascena,            8.
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Amygdalus,      32. campanulata, 56,  62.  dasycarpa,            4.
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angustifolia, 5, 15, campestris,      29.  Davidiana,            34.
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    20, 54, 77, 78. canescens,        65.  Davisii,              23.
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Ansu,            1. caproniana,      53.  decumana,            54.
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apetala,        69. Capollin,        70.  demissa,              73.
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argentea,        28. Capuli,          70.  diffusa,              45.
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Ariake,          56. caroliniana,      79.  divaricata,            5.
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arkansana,      16. carthagena,      70.  domestica,      5, 8, 33.
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Armeniaca,        1. cataracta,        56.  donarium,            56.
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ascendens,      64. cartailagines,    70.  dulcis,          32, 54.
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asplenifolia, 54,70. caucasica,        78.  dumosa,              53.
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atropurpurea,    5. cerasifera,        5.  duracina,            54.
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aucubaefolia, 53,74. cerasoides,  61, 62.  elegans,              8.
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aurea,          74. Cerasus,      52, 53.  emarginata,        50,51. 
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eminens,        52. macrophylla,      54.  regalis,              54.
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endotricha,      42. Mahaleb,          46.  reticulata,          16.
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Engleri,        39. Makinoana,        64.  Reverchonii,          19.
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erecta,          56. maliformis,        8.  Rhexii,              53.
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eujaponica,      39. mandshurica,      1.  rivularis,            18.
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excelsa,        56. maritima,        25.  resea,            55, 64.
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eximia,          70. marmorata,        74.  resea-plena,      32, 33.
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fasciculata,    55. Masu,              9.  Rosebudii,            37.
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Fenzliana,      31. Masuyama,        55.  rotundifolia,        78.
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flava,          25. Maureri,          43.  rubra,                29.
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floribunda,      55. Maximowiczii,    47.  rufa,                63.
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Fontanesiana,    54. Mazakura,        56.  sachalinensis,        55.
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fragilis,        32. media,            48.  salicifolia,      40, 54,
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frutescens,      53. Meigetsu,        55.      70, 72.
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fruticosa,  52, 58. melanocarpa,      73.  salicina,              9.
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Fudanzakura,    56. mesadenia,        55.  sancta,              55.
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Fugenzo,        55. mexicana,        16.  sanguinea plena,      33.
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Fukubana,        64. microcarpa,    2, 45.  Sargentii,            55.
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galatensis,      8. microlepis,      64.  sativa,              32.
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georgica,        29. microphylla,      78.  saximontana,          49.
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Gijozakura,      56. Mikurumakaisi,    56.  schipkaensis,        78.
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Gioiko,          56. Minakami,        56.  Sekiyama,            55.
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glabra,          40. Mineri,          17.  semperflorens,        53.
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glandulosa,      40. Miqueliana,      64.  sempervirens,        79.
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golbosa,    46, 53. mitis,            24.  Senriko,              56.
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Goethartiana,    2. Miyako,          56.  serotina,            70.
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Gosiozakura,    56. mollis,  14, 15, 51.  serratifolia,        55.
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Gozanomanioi,    56. monstrosa,        46.  serrula,              60.
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gracilis,        26. Moseri,            5.  serrulata,        55, 56.
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gracillima,      39. Moutan,          56.  Shibayama,            55.
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Graebneriana,    42. Mume,              2.  Shidare-Sakura,      55.
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graeca,          54. Munsoniana,      21.  Shirofugen,          55.
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grandiflora,    56. mutabilis,    55, 56.  Shogetsu,            55.
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Gravesii,        25. Myrobalana,        5.  Shuiaku,              55.
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Grayana,    74, 75. myrtifolia,      77.  sibirica,          1, 52.
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gymnodonta,      10. nana,    29, 39, 72.  Sieboldii,            57.
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Habutai,        56. nectarina,        33.  Simonii,              12.
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Hakkasan,        55. neoinontana,      70.  sinensis,        39, 40.
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Hatazakura,      56. nicotianaefolia,  54.  Sirotae,              56.
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Hattan,          9. nigra,    5, 15, 54.  Smithii,              64.
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Herincquiana,    64. nikkoensis,      68.  Sobanzakura,          56.
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Hessei,          5. nipponica,        68.  Spaethiana,        5, 42.
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heterophylla,    54. nobilis,          56.  speciosa,            56.
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hiemalis,        14. nucipersica,      33.  sphaerica,            25.
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Higurashi,      56. nudiflora,        58.  sphaerocarpa,    25, 80.
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Hisakura,        55. occidentalis,    82.  spinosa,              7.
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Hixa,            77. Ochichima,        56.  spiralis,            55.
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homogena,        55. odorata,          46.  Ssiori,              76.
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Hookeri,        40. oeconomica,        8.  stenophyllus,        20.
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Horaisan,        56. officinalis,      78.  subcordata,          13.
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Horinji,        55. Ogon,            56.  subfusca,            56.
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hortensis,      56. Ohnanden,        55.  subhirtella,          64.
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hortulana,      17. Ohsibayama,      56.  Sumizome,            56.
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Hosolawa,        56. Ojochin,          56.  superba,              55.
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humilis,  41,52, 55. oregana,          13.  Surugadai-odora,      56.
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ichangana,        9. orientalis,      29.  Sweginzowii,          30.
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ignota,          14. orthosepala,      22.  syriaca,              8.
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ilicifolia,  81, 82. Padus,        74, 75.  Taizanfukun,          58.
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incana,          43. paracerasus,      58.  Takinioi,            56.
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incisa,          67. parvifolia,      78.  tarda,                24.
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injucunda,      24. pedunculata,      27.  Temari,              56.
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insititia,        8. pendula, 1,5, 32, 46,  tenuiflora,          55.
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integrifolia,    82. 52, 54, 64, 70,72,74.  tenuifolia,          16.
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intermedia,      52. pennsylvanica,    49.  texaua,          18, 40.
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involucrata,    55. Persica,          33.  thibetica,            11.
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Isezakura,      56. persiciflora,    53.  Thunbergii,          39.
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italica,          8. persicifolia,    49.  tibetica,            60.
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Itokukuri,      55. persiooides,      32.  tomentosa,            42.
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itosakra,        64. Petzoldii,        27.  transilvanica,        46.
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itosakura,      64. Phoshia,          61.  trichostyla,          40.
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iwagiensis,      68. pilosa,          69.  triflora,              9.
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japonica,    9, 39, pilosiusoula,    48.  triloba,              27.
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            64, 78. Pissardii,        5.  Tschoneskii,          69.
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jonioi,          56. plantieriensis,    5.  typica,          32, 53.
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Juliana,        54. platycarpa,      33.  Uduxuzakura,          55.
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Kelloggii,      13. plenam  7,27,54, 74.  ulmifolia,            27.
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Kerii,          39. polyandra,        16.  umbellata,            24.
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Kirigaya,        56. praecox,          55.  utahensis,            38.
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Kirin,          55. prostrata,        44.  varians,              20.
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Kokesimidsu,    56. prunella,        37.  variegata, 1, 32, 46, 52,
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Kokonaye,        55. Pseudo-Cerasus,  55,  53, 54, 70, 74, 77, 78.
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Kongosan,        56.  56.                  Veitchii,            55.
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Kosioyama,      55. pubescens,    25,55.  venulosa,            26.
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Kunrinjishirotai,56. pubigera,        25.  verecunda,            55.
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kurilensis,      68. pubipes,          9.  versaillensis,        78.
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laciniata,        2. puddum,          61.  versicolor,      33, 56.
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laevis,          33. pumila,      35, 36,  violacea,            33.
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lanata,          14.    37, 52.              virgata,              27.
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Lannesiana,      56. Purdomii,        40.  virginiana,      72, 73.
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latifolia,  14, 78. purpurea,      7, 32.  viridicalyx,          2.
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Laucheana,      74. Purpusii,          5.  vulgaris,  1, 33, 53, 74.
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Laurocerasus,    78. pygma,            19.  Wasinowo,            56.
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leucocarpa,  72,74. pygmaea,          25.  Watereri,            57.
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Leveilleana,    55. pyramidalis,  54, 70.  Watsonii,            20.
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Lindleyi,        27. quelpaertensis,  55.  Waylandii,            17.
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littoralis,      25. racemosa,        74.  Yayeakebono,          56.
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lobulata,        66. ranunculiflora,  53.  yedoensis,            58.
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lusitanica,      77. Ranzan,          56.  Yedozakma,            56.
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Lyonii,          82. reflexa,          52.
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Maackii,        71.
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Key to the Groups.
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Subgenus I. Prunophora. Apricots and Plums.
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Fr. sulcate, glabrous and usually glaucous (except in the apricots), the stone compressed and usually longer than broad and smooth or nearly so: fls. solitary or m umbel-like cymes, mostly appearing before the lvs. or with them: lvs. mostly convolute (but often con- duplicate) in vernation, generally ovate or lance-ovate.
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P. bicolor, Koehne. Allied to P. Padus. Tree, to 40 ft.: branch- lets finely velutinous: lvs. obovate-oblong, acuminate, subeordate or rounded at base, serrulate, glabrous and whitish beneath, 2-4 in. long: fruiting raceme to 5 in. long: fr. globose, 1/5in. across. W. Chiana.—P. conadenia, Koehne. Allied to P. Maximowiczii. Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. obovate, acuminate, usually rounded at base, doubly serrate, finally glabrous, 1 1/2-3 1/2in. long: fls. white, about 1/2in. across, in 5—8-fld. racemes: fr. ovoid, red. W. China.—P. concinna, Koehne (P. Zappeyana, Koehne). Allied to P. lobulata (and has been cult, as P. subhirtella). Shrub, to 15 ft.: lvs. rhombic-oblong too obo- vate-oblong, acuminate, rounded at the base, doubly incised-serrate, nearly glabrous, 1-3 in. long: fls. white, 1-2, precocious, about 3/4in. across; pedicels and calyx glabrous: fr. dark red or black. Cent. China.—P. consociiflora. Schneid.=P. salicina.—P. cyclamina, Koehne (subgen. Cerasus). Tree, to 25 ft.: lvs. obovate-oblong. acuminate, rounded at base, sharply simply or doubly serrate, at first sparingly pubescent on the veins, 2—4 in. long: fls. umbellate, 3-4, pink, 1 1/3in. across: sepals reflexed: fr. subglobose. red. 1/3in. across. Cent. China.—P. dehiscens, Koehne (subgen. Amygdalus). Spiny shrub, to 12 ft.: lvs. usually fascicled, oblong to oblanceolate, acute or obtuse, cuneate at the base, crenulate, glabrous, '1/2-1 1/3in. long: fls. subsessile; sepals roundish: fr. roundish, slightly compressed, about 3/4in. across, greenish, densely tomentose, finally dehiscent: stone slightly compressed, keeled, slightly rugose. W.China.—P.Dielsian, Schneid, (subgen. Cerasus). Shrub or tree, to .30 ft.: lvs. oblong, abruptly acuminate, cuneate or rounded at the base, simply or doubly serrate, pubescent beneath, 3-6 in. long: fls. umbellate, 3-5, with persistent involucre, white or pink, 1 1/4in across; sepals reflexed, oblong to lanceolate: fr. globose, red, 1/3in. across. Cent. China.—P. discadenia, Koehne. Allied to P. Maxi- mowiczii. Shrub or tree, to 35 ft.: lvs. ovate or obovate. acuminate, usually rounded or cordate at base, unequally serrate, glabrous, 2-4 in. long: fls. white, 3/4in. across, in 3-9fld. racemes: fr. subglo- bose, 2/5in. across. Cent. China.—P. glyptocarya, Koehne. Allied to P. lobulata. Tree, to 30 ft.: branchlets pubescent: lvs. oblong to obovate-oblong, acuminate, usually rounded at base, deeply doubly serrate, pubescent beneath, 2-4 1/3- lone: fls. umbellate: fr. globose, 1/2in, across, dark red; stone reticulate and ribbed. W. China.—P. Jacquemontii, Hook. f. Allied to P. prostrata. Low shrub, glabrous: lvs, elliptic-oblong, acute or short-acuminate, cuneate at base, serrate, light green beneath, 3/4-1 3/4in. long: fls. 1-3, short-stalked, pink, 1/2in. across: calyx tubular: fr. ovoid, 1/3in, long, dark purple. W. Himalayas. B.M. 6976.—P. macro- phylla, Sieb. & Zuce. Allied to P. Laurocerasus. Evergreen tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. oblong, acuminate, broadly cuneate at base, serrulate, glabrous, 4-7 in. long: fls. white, in dense racemes 1-1 1/2in. long: fr. ovoid, 3/4in. long. S. Japan. S.I.F. 1.29.—P. mira, Koehne. Allied to P. Persica. Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. lanceolate, long-acuminate, rounded at base, crenulate-serrulate, villous beneath along the midrib, otherwise glabrous, 2-4in.long: fr. short- stalked, subglobose, 1 1/4 in. across, tomentose, edible; stone ovate, compressed, keeled, smooth. W. China. Differs from all peaches in its smooth stone. Hardy at Arnold Arboretum.—P. perulata, Koehne (subgen. Padus). Tree, to 40 ft. : lvs. elliptic to oblanceolate, acuminate, rounded or broadly cuneate at base, serrulate, sparingly pubescent beneath, 2 1/2-4 1/2in. long: racemes 2-3 in. long, velutin- ous, with a persistent involucre at base, leafless: fr. globose, 1/5in. across; calyx persistent. W. China.—P. pleiocerasus, Koehne. Allied to P. Maximowiczii. Tree, to 25 ft.: lvs. obovate-oblong. caudate-acuminate, rounded or cuneate at base, unequally serrate, glabrous or nearly so beneath, 1 /4-3 1/2in. long: fls. white, in 4-7- fld. racemes: fr. globose, dark red or black. W. China.—P. pleurop- tera, Koehne. Allied to P. lobulata. Tree, to 30 ft.: brauehlets hairy: lvs. obovate to rhombic-oblong, acuminate, usually cuneate at base, incisely doubly serrate, pubescent beneath on the veins, 3/4-2 1/3in. long: fr. usually solitary, subglobose, 1/2in. long, black; stone sulcate and foveolate. W. China.—P. polytricha, Koehne. Allied to P. Maximowiczii. Tree, to 30 ft.: branelilets villous: lvs. obovate to obovate-oblong, caudate, usually rounded at base, doubly serrate, pubescent on both sides, 1 1/2-3in. long: frs. 1-2 on a bracted peduncle 1/5-1/2in. long, ovoid, red. 1/3in. long; pedicels villous, about 1 in. long. Cent. China.—P. pubigera, Koehne (P.pubigera var. Potaninii, Koehne). Allied to P. Padus. Tree, to 60ft.: branchlets minutely velutinous: lvs. obovate-oblong, short- acuminate, subcordate or cordate at the base, minutely serrulate, glabrous and whitish beneath, 1 1/2-4 1/4in. long; petioles puberu-lous: racemes 3-6in. long: fr. about 1/4in. across. W. China. Var. Prattii, Koehne. Lvs. cuneate or rounded at base; petioles glabrous. Var. obovata, Koehne. Lvs. obovate, rounded at base; petioles glabrous.—P. rufomicans, Koehne (subgen. Padus). Tree, to 80 ft.: lvs. of flowering branehlets lanceolate to oblong-lanceo- late, about 2 in. long, of sterile branches usually obovate, 3—4 in. long, sharply serrulate, rufous-tomentose beneath: fruiting raceme 5 in. long, glabrous: fr. subglobosc, 2/5in. across. W. China.—P. sericea, Koehne (P. napaulensis var. sericea, Batal). Tree, to 80 ft. : lvs. elliptic to oblong, rounded or cuneate at base, remotely serrate, white-tomentose at first, later grayish tomentose. 3-5 in. long: racemes 4-5 in. long, densely short-pilose: fr. subglobose, 3/5in. long, black. W. China.—P. stellipila, Koehne (subgen. Padus). Tree, to 20 ft.: lvs. elliptic to narrow-oblong, long-acuminate, broadly cuneate or nearly rounded at base, sharply serrate, sparingly pubescent beneath, 2-4 in. long: racemes upright, 1 3/4-2in. long, without lvs. at the base: fr. globose, 1/5in. across. Cent. China.—P. tangutica, Koehne (Amygdalus communis var. tan- gutica. Batal). spiny shrub: lvs. fascicled, lanceolate, obtuse or acutish, crenulate-serrulate, 1-2 in. long: fls. sessile, about 1 in. across: fr. subglobose, 4/5in- across, somewhat compressed, rather dry; stone irregularly furrowed. N. W. China.—P. tatsienensis, Batal. Allied to P. Maximowicxii. Tree: lvs. ovate to obovate, acuminate, serrulate, 1 1/2-2 1/2in. long: fls. white, 3/4in. across in 3-7-fld. racemes with large leafy bracts. W. China. Var. stena- denia, Koehne. Tree, to 30 ft., quite glabrous: lvs. obovate-oblong, caudate, cuneate or rounded at base: fr. globose, dark red, 2/5in. across. W. China.—P. venoea, Koehne (subgen. Padus). Tree, to 35 ft.: lvs. oblong-obovate to obovate-oblanceolate, acuminate, cuneate or nearly rounded at base, sharply serrate, reticulate beneath, glabrous except the bearded axils, 2 1/2-4 1/2in. long: racemes without lvs. at base, 1 1/2-4 in. long: fr. globose, about 1/3in. across. Cent. China.—P. Wilsonii, Koehne (Padus Wilsonii, Schneid.). Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. elliptic-oblong to obovate-oblong, acuminate, usually cuneate at base, remotely serrate, whitish pubescent beneath, 3 1/2-5 in. long: racemes pubescent, 5-6 in. long: fr. ovoid, 1/2in. long, black. Cent. China. Var. leiobotrys, Koehne. Lvs. closely serrulate, grayish beneath; racemes glabrous.—P. Zappeyana, Koehne=P. concinna. L. H. B.
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Revision as of 12:18, 21 September 2009


Read about Prunus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

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Prunus
Plum (Prunus domestica)
Plum (Prunus domestica)
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Prunoideae
Genus: Prunus
L.

Species
Include:


Prunus alabamensis
Prunus africana
Prunus alleghaniensis
Prunus americana
Prunus andersonii
Prunus angustifolia
Prunus apetala
Prunus armeniaca
Prunus avium
Prunus buergeriana
Prunus caroliniana
Prunus cerasifera
Prunus cerasoides
Prunus cerasus
Prunus crassifolia
Prunus domestica
Prunus dulcis
Prunus emarginata
Prunus fasciculata
Prunus fremontii
Prunus fruticosa
Prunus geniculata
Prunus glandulosa
Prunus gracilis
Prunus grayana
Prunus havardii
Prunus hortulana
Prunus ilicifolia
Prunus japonica
Prunus laurocerasus
Prunus lusitanica
Prunus maackii
Prunus mahaleb
Prunus maritima
Prunus maximowiczii
Prunus mexicana
Prunus minutiflora
Prunus mume
Prunus munsoniana
Prunus murrayana
Prunus myrtifolia
Prunus nigra
Prunus occidentalis
Prunus padus
Prunus pensylvanica
Prunus persica
Prunus pleuradenia
Prunus pumula
Prunus rivularis
Prunus salicina
Prunus serotina
Prunus serrulata
Prunus spinosa
Prunus spinulosa
Prunus ssiori
Prunus subcordata
Prunus subhirtella
Prunus tenella
Prunus texana
Prunus tomentosa
Prunus triloba
Prunus umbellata
Prunus verecunda
Prunus virginiana
Prunus yedoensis
Prunus zippeliana

Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, including the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. It is traditionally placed within the rose family Rosaceae as a subfamily, the Prunoideae (or Amygdaloideae), but sometimes placed in its own family, the Prunaceae (or Amygdalaceae). There are several hundred species of Prunus, spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe.

The flowers are usually white to pink, with five petals and five sepals. They are borne singly, or in umbels of two to six or more on racemes. The fruit of all Prunus species is a drupe with a relatively large "stone". Leaves are simple and usually lanceolate, unlobed and toothed along the margin.

Classification

Some treatments break the genus up into several different genera, but this segregation is not widely recognised other than at the subgeneric rank. ITIS recognises just the single Genus Prunus, with the incomplete list of species as shown in the box on the right.

  • Prunus subgenera:
    • Subgenus Amygdalus: almonds and peaches. Axillary buds in threes (vegetative bud central, two flower buds to sides). Flowers in early spring, sessile or nearly so, not on leafed shoots. Fruit with a groove along one side; stone deeply grooved. Type species Prunus dulcis (Almond).
    • Subgenus Prunus: plums and apricots. Axillary buds solitary. Flowers in early spring stalked, not on leafed shoots. Fruit with a groove along one side; stone rough. Type species Prunus domestica (Plum).
    • Subgenus Cerasus: cherries. Axillary buds single. Flowers in early spring in corymbs, long-stalked, not on leafed shoots. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Type species Prunus cerasus (Sour cherry).
    • Subgenus Lithocerasus: dwarf cherries. Axillary buds in threes. Flowers in early spring in corymbs, long-stalked, not on leafed shoots. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Type species Prunus pumila (Sand cherry).
    • Subgenus Padus: bird cherries. Axillary buds single. Flowers in late spring in racemes on leafy shoots, short-stalked. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Type species Prunus padus (European bird cherry).
    • Subgenus Laurocerasus: cherry-laurels. Axillary buds single. Flowers in early spring in racemes, not on leafed shoots, short-stalked. Fruit not grooved; stone smooth. Mostly evergreen (all the other subgenera are deciduous). Type species Prunus laurocerasus (European cherry-laurel).

Uses

The genus Prunus includes the almond, apricot, cherry, peach and plum, all of which have cultivars developed for commercial fruit production. The edible part of the almond is the seed; the almond fruit is a drupe and not a "nut". There are also a number of species, hybrids, and cultivars grown strictly as ornamental plants, usually for their profusion of flowers, occasionally for leaves and bark. These ornamentals include the group that may be collectively called flowering cherries.

Pygeum is a herbal remedy containing extracts from the bark of Prunus africana. It is used as to alleviate some of the discomfort caused by inflammation in patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Because of their considerable value as both food and ornamental plants, many Prunus species have been introduced to parts of the world to which they are not native. Many of the Old World species are grown for ornament or fruit, and have been planted throughout the world; and some have become naturalised beyond their native range.

Prunus species are used as food plants for the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Prunus.

Selected species by continent

Note: these lists are probably incomplete.

Old World:

  • Prunus africana - African Cherry, Red Stinkwood, Pygeum. Montane forests of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Over-harvesting of bark for herbal remedies has led to it becoming endangered it its natural habitats.
  • Prunus apetala - Japan.
  • Prunus armeniaca - Apricot. Central Asia to China.
  • Prunus avium - Wild Cherry, also called the Gean, Mazzard, or Sweet Cherry, and the parent of most of the edible cherries. Europe to West Asia.
  • Prunus brigantina - Briançon Apricot. Southeast France.
  • Prunus buergeriana - Japan.
  • Prunus campanulata - Bell-flowered Cherry. Southern China, Taiwan.
  • Prunus canescens - Greyleaf Cherry. China.
  • Prunus cantabridgensis - Cambridge Cherry. Unknown origin, probably east Asia, possibly hybrid.
  • Prunus caspica
  • Prunus cerasus - Sour Cherry or Morello Cherry. Europe and southwest Asia.
  • Prunus cerasifera - Myrobalan Plum or Cherry Plum. Southeast Europe and southwest Asia.
  • Prunus cerasoides- Wild Himalayan cherry
  • Prunus cocomilia - Naples Plum. Southeast Europe (Italy, Balkans).
  • Prunus cornuta - Himalayan Bird Cherry. Himalaya.
  • Prunus crassifolia - One of only two Prunus species native to Africa.
  • Prunus dasycarpa - Black Apricot. Probably a hybrid P. armeniaca x P. cerasifera.
  • Prunus davidiana - David's Peach. China.
  • Prunus divaricata
  • Prunus domestica - Plum. Believed to be a hybrid, probably from West Asia and the Caucasus.
  • Prunus domestica var. insititia - Bullace and Damson
  • Prumus domestica var. italica - Greengage
  • Prunus domestica var. syriaca - Mirabelle
  • Prunus dulcis - Almond. Southeast Europe, southwest Asia.
  • Prunus fruticosa - Ground Cherry. Northeastern Europe, northern Asia.
  • Prunus grayana - Gray's Bird Cherry. Japan.
  • Prunus incana - Willow Cherry. Asia Minor, Caucasus.
  • Prunus incisa - Fuji Cherry. Japan.
  • Prunus insititia
  • Prunus italica
  • Prunus jacquemontii - Afghan Cherry. Northwest Himalaya in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  • Prunus japonica - China, (cultivated in Japan).
  • Prunus laurocerasus - Cherry Laurel, of the Balkans and West Asia.
  • Prunus lusitanica - Portugal Laurel. From Iberia.
  • Prunus maackii - Manchurian Cherry. Northeast Asia.
  • Prunus mahaleb - St Lucie Cherry, or Mahaleb Cherry. Europe.
  • Prunus maximowiczii - Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Russian far east.
  • Prunus mume - Ume, aka Japanese apricot. China and Japan.
  • Prunus nipponica - Japanese Alpine Cherry. Japan.
  • Prunus padus - Bird Cherry. Northern Eurasia.
  • Prunus persica - Peach, origin uncertain, probably West Asia.
  • Prunus prostrata - Mountain Cherry. Mediterranean region.
  • Prunus ramburii
  • Prunus salicina - Japanese Plum. Japan, China.
  • Prunus sargentii - Sargent's Cherry. Northern Japan.
  • Prunus serrula - Tibetan Cherry. Western China to central Asia.
  • Prunus serrulata - Japanese Cherry (Sakura). Eastern Asia.
    Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata) in bloom
  • Prunus sibirica - Siberian Apricot. Northeastern Asia.
  • Prunus simonii - Apricot Plum. Northern China.
  • Prunus sogdiana
  • Prunus speciosa - Oshima Cherry. Oshima & Izu Islands of Japan.
  • Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn or Sloe. Europe, North Africa, West Asia.
  • Prunus spinulosa - central and southern Japan.
  • Prunus ssiori - Japan, Manchuria, Russian far east.
  • Prunus subhirtella - origin uncertain, but probably East Asia.
  • Prunus tenella - Dwarf Russian Almond. Black Sea area.
  • Prunus tomentosa - Downy Cherry. Southwestern China, Himalaya.
  • Prunus ussuriensis
  • Prunus ursina
  • Prunus verecunda - Japan, Korea.
  • Prunus yedoensis - Yoshino Cherry. Japan, probably of cultivated hybrid origin.
  • Prunus zippeliana - central and southern Japan, Taiwan.

North America:

  • Prunus allegheniensis - Allegheny Plum. In the Appalachian belt.
  • Prunus americana - American Plum. Most of the U.S. east of the Great Plains and southernmost Canada.
  • Prunus andersonii - Desert Peach. Western U.S.
  • Prunus angustifolia - Chickasaw Plum. Southeast U.S.
  • Prunus besseyi - Rocky Mountain Cherry. Great Plains & eastern Rocky Mts.
  • Prunus caroliniana - Carolina Cherry Laurel. Southeast U.S.
  • Prunus emarginata - Bitter Cherry. British Columbia to California.
  • Prunus hortulana - Hortulan Plum. Mostly Missouri and Illinois and surrounding areas.
  • Prunus ilicifolia. Hollyleaf Cherry. California.
  • Prunus maritima - Beach Plum. Northeast Atlantic coast.
  • Prunus mexicana - Bigtree Plum. Southeast Great Plains.
  • Prunus munsoniana - Wild-goose Plum. Mostly Missouri and eastern Kansas and surrounding areas.
  • Prunus nigra - Canada Plum. Southeasternmost Canada west to Manitoba and northeasternmost U.S.
  • Prunus pensylvanica - Pin Cherry. Southern half of Canada and northernmost U.S.
  • Prunus pumila - Sand Cherry. Southeast and south-central Canada and northern U.S. west to Wyoming.
  • Prunus serotina - Black Cherry. Southeasternmost Canada and most of U.S. east of Great Plains, also found in Arizona and Guatemala.
  • Prunus subcordata - Klamath Plum. Oregon, California.
  • Prunus virginiana - Chokecherry. Southern Canada and most of eastern U.S. except for deep south.

See also

External links

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