Prunus rivularis

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Wild goose plum redirects here; for another species with that name see Prunus hortulana

Prunus rivularis

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1
)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Prunus
Section: Prunus sect. Prunocerasus
Species:
P. rivularis
Binomial name
Prunus rivularis
Natural range (Prunus munsoniana)
Synonyms[1]
  • Prunus munsoniana W.Wight & Hedrick
  • Prunus pygma Munson
  • Prunus reverchonii Sarg.
  • Prunus tawakonia Lindh. ex A.Gray[a]

Prunus rivularis, known variously by the common names creek plum,

bitter taste, it serves as a source of food for birds and other wildlife. "Prunus" is Latin for plum, whereas "rivularis" means being near a stream.[3]

Description

The

leaves are simple and alternately arranged along the stems. The general shape of the leaf ranges between elliptic and ovate and is gauged out to be 5–6 centimeters (2–2+1⁄4 inches) long and 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) wide. The base shape of the leaf is considered cuneate while the apex is acuminate. The margin or edges is described as serrate; usually with 10–11 teeth per centimeter.[4]

Flowers of this plant usually blossom around March to April. The inflorescence type is considered a raceme, where there are flower spikes from stalks that pawn out from the stem. The flowers themselves stretch in entirety to 12–16 millimeters (1⁄2–5⁄8 in). They occur in clusters of 2 to 8 on leaf axils. The pedicels on which the flowers are attached measure to 15–16 mm. They have a green and glabrous surface.[4] The glabrous hypanthium is considered the floral tube. P. rivularis is defined as a perigynous plant. The hypanthium's length and width is measured out to be 2 to 2.5 mm, respectively.[4] The calyx lobes, or sepals of a flower, are found in a cluster of 5. The sepal has an oblong leaf shape and is measured 2 millimeters. The apex has a flat tip or truncate shape. There is a sugar-producing gland at the tip in which the leaves cup around. The margins are ciliate and the sides are pubescent.[4] There are 5 white petals that are measured with a length of 5 mm. The petal margins are cupped and have an undulated (wavy) shape. There are on average of 20 stamen; the filaments are long and slender, 4–6 mm long while the anthers have a yellowish tint. The stamen is planted on the base of the hypanthium where the ovary is placed in the superior position. The ovary has a dark green hue and is measured 1–1.5 mm long while the style is white and is measured 5–6 mm long.[4]

The fruit ripens in late July. It is a drupe with a stony endocarp, fleshy mesocarp and soft exocarp.[5] They can appear alone or in a cluster of 2 or 3 other fruits. The pedicel that stems from the fruit is slender and glabrous, measured to be 13–16 mm long.[4] The fruit shape is globular and has an orangeish-reddish tint. It is 17–22 mm long as it is wide.[4] It has a very juicy mesocarp, though it is quite bitter in taste. The endocarp is 9–11 mm wide and 13–15 mm thick.[4]

  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • Fruits and foliage
    Fruits and foliage

Distribution and habitat

Prunus rivularis is native to the United States; found in California,

USDA zones, or geographically designated zones of temperature of which plants can grow under, are found in the southern U.S.[8] The temperature ranges between −10 and 30 °F (−23 and −1 °C). Because of the range of dispersion, the amount of precipitation this plant can experience is anywhere from 610 to 1,220 mm (24 to 48 in) per year.[6]

Ecology

P. rivularis is considered perennial, in which it can survive for more than two or more years. The fruits produced are usually consumed by birds and other mammals. The flowers are known to attract insects such as butterflies and bees.[6]

Medicinal

All members of the genus Prunus contain amygdalin and prunasin. These compounds are found in leaves and seeds. These substances can form hydrogen cyanide through subsequent reactions in water.[9]

Uses

The leaves can be used to produce dyes ranging from green to dark gray.[9]

The fruit was eaten by American Indians in Texas.[10]

Notes

  1. ^ This Prunus tawakonia synonym exists only because Asa Gray chose to mention Lindheimer's suggestion for the epithet while accepting Scheele's.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f  Prunus rivularis was originally described and published in Linnaea 21:594. 1848. "Prunus rivularis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. hdl:1/11181178
    . Retrieved 9 August 2018. Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of History of Science
  3. ^ "USDA Plants Database".
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0700601073
    .
  5. ^ Armstrong, W.P. "Wayne's Word". Fruits Called Nuts. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  6. ^ a b c d Johnson. "National Plant Database". Prunus rivularis Scheele. Lady Bird Johnson WildflowerCenter. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
  7. ^ Aggie. "Creek Plum, Hog Plum, Thicket Plum". Prunus rivularis. Texas Agrilife Extension System. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  8. ^ "United States National Arboretum". USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. USDA. Archived from the original on 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-04-23.
  9. ^ a b Creative Commons. "Prunus rivularis - Scherle". Ken Fern/Plants for a Future. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  10. ^ Yanovsky, Elias (1936). Food plants of the North American Indians. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. pp. 33. Prunus rivularis.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prunus_rivularis&oldid=1191749709"