| American Plum, also known as Wild Plum, is a small tree that is uncommon in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of North Carolina. Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Leaf undersides. Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.
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| Granville Co., NC 5/25/2009.
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| Granville Co., NC 5/25/2009.
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| The leaves are finely serrated and abruptly long-pointed (acuminate). The petioles and leaf teeth lack glands. Granville Co., NC 5/25/2009.
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| Granville Co., NC 5/25/2009.
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| The flowers are similar to wild cherries, with 4-5 white flowers in an inflorescence, but the infloresences lack leafy bracts at the base. Note also that the petioles lack glands and the leaf teeth and sepals lack marginal glands. Compare the flowers and leaves to Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium). Eno River State Park, Durham Co., NC 4/13/08.
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| Flower detail. Eno River State Park, Durham Co., NC 4/13/08.
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| Major branches have fine smaller branches tipped with downward-pointing spines. Eno River State Park, Durham Co., NC 4/13/08.
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| The fruits (plums) are large and edible when ripe. Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Granville Co., NC 6/5/05.
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| The bark is similar to other cherries, dark gray with horizontally-elongated lenticels, but tends to peel with age, revealing pale reddish-tan bark beneath. Eno River State Park, Durham Co., NC 4/13/08.
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| Granville Co., NC 5/25/2009.
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| Older bark can be so peely that it somewhat resembles that of River Birch. Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.
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| Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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More information:
NC State Fact Sheet
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides
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