Prunus maritima

Taxobox | name = "Prunus maritima"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rosaceae
genus = "Prunus"
subgenus = "Prunus"
sectio = "Prunocerasus"
species = "P. maritima"
binomial = "Prunus maritima"
binomial_authority = Marshall

"Prunus maritima" (Beach Plum) is a species of plum native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from New Brunswick south to Maryland.Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?30039 "Prunus maritima"] ] [USDA Plants Profile: [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PRMA2 "Prunus maritima"] ]

It is a deciduous shrub, in its natural sand dune habitat growing 1-2 m high, although it can grow larger, up to 4 m tall, when cultivated in gardens. The leaves are alternate, elliptical, 3-7 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with a sharply serrated margin. They are colored green on top and pale below, becoming showy in the autumn. The flowers are 1-1.5 cm diameter, with five white petals and large yellow anthers. The fruit is an edible drupe 1.5-2 cm diameter in the wild plant.Maine Department of Conservation Natural Areas Program: [http://www.mainenaturalareas.org/docs/rare_plants/links/factsheets/Prunusmaritima.pdf "Prunus maritima" (pdf file)] ] Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.]

A plant with rounded leaves, of which only a single specimen has ever been found in the wild, has been described as "Prunus maritima" var. "gravesii" (Small) G.J.Anderson,Center for Plant Conservation: [http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/asp/CPC_ViewProfile.asp?CPCNum=3646 "Prunus maritima" var. "gravesii"] ] though its taxonomic status is questionable, and it may be better considered a cultivar "Prunus maritima" 'Gravesii'.University of Connecticut: [http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/199900254.html "Prunus maritima" 'Gravesii'] ] The original plant, found in Connecticut, died in about 2000, but it is maintained in cultivation from rooted cuttings.

The plant is salt-tolerant and cold-hardy. It prefers the full sun and well-drained soil. It spreads roots by putting out suckers but in course soil puts down a tap root. In dunes it is often partly buried in drifting sand. It blooms in mid-May and June. The fruit ripens in August and early September.

The species is endangered in Maine, where it is in serious decline due to commercial development of its beach habitats.

Cultivation and uses

The species is grown commercially for its fruit to a small extent, used to make jam. [Cornell University Department of Horticulture: [http://www.beachplum.cornell.edu/ Beach Plum] ] A number of cultivars have been selected for larger and better flavored fruit, including 'Eastham', 'Oceanview', 'Hancock' and 'Squibnocket'.University of Connecticut: [http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/p/prumar/prumar1.html "Prunus maritima"] ]

Nomenclature

The species was first described by Marshall in 1785 as "Prunus maritima", the 'Sea side Plumb'. [Marshall, H. (1785). "Arbustrum Americanum: The American Grove, Or, An Alphabetical Catalogue of Forest Trees and Shrubs, Natives of the American United States, Arranged According to the Linnaean System", p. 112. Joseph Crukshank, Philadelphia. Downloadable Google Books at [http://books.google.com/books?id=K_kCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=arbustrum+americanum] .] A few sources cite Wangenheim as the author, [Grier, N. M., & Grier, C. R. (1929). A List of Plants Growing Under Cultivation in the Vicinity of Cold Spring Harbor, New York. "American Midland Naturalist" 11: 307-387.] though Wangenheim's publication dates to 1787, two years later than Marshall's.

Plum Island, Massachusetts is named after the Beach Plum.

References