WILD RED PLUM; YELLOW PLUM (Prunus Americana Marsh.). 15 to 20 feet. Graceful little tree with wide-spread ing branches, and angular twigs with lateral spurs sharp, ending in thorns. Bark reddish brown, checked into scaly plates. Wood hard, close-grained, heavy, strong, reddish brown, used for fuel. Leaves oval, tapering at apex and base, finely serrate, thick, firm, rough above, pale, smooth beneath, 3 to 4 inches long, turning yellow. Flowers in April, before
leaves, fragrant, white, perfect, with 5 petals that turn pink in fading. Fruit a globose, fleshy, tart, rich-flavored drupe, 1 inch long, with a single pit, flat, with sharp edge; skin tough, bitter, puckery to taste. Dist.: River banks, New York to Colorado and Texas.