Prunus gracilis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prunus gracilis |
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| 1913 illustration | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prunus
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| Species: |
gracilis
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| Synonyms | |
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Prunus normalis Small |
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Prunus gracilis, called the Oklahoma plum, sour plum, and sand plum, is native to the south-central United States (eastern New Mexico, southeastern Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, southwestern Arkansas, northwestern Louisiana).
The specific epithet Gracilis refers to 'slender branches'. Prunus gracilis grows up to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, has five-petaled leaves, and fruits ripen June–August. Its red fruits are considered poor for eating, but Native Americans dried them for consumption during winter. It grows in clusters and thickets. It is hermaphrodite and pollinated by insects.
Range
It is natively found in various states of United States, from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Habitat
It is found growing in fence rows, open woodlands, woodlands edge, forest openings, hillsides, slopes, sandy roadsides, upland thickets and waste places. It is normally found at 100–1,300 m (330–4,270 ft) above sea level.
