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| − | {{Hatnote|Wild goose plum redirects here; for another species with that name see ''[[Prunus hortulana]]''}}
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| | |image = Creek_plum22.png | | |image = Creek_plum22.png |
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| | |synonyms_ref = <ref name=grin/> | | |synonyms_ref = <ref name=grin/> |
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| − | '''''Prunus rivularis''''', known variously by the common names '''creek plum''',<ref name=grin/> '''hog plum''',<ref name=grin/> or '''wild-goose plum'''<ref name=grin/> is a thicket forming shrub. It prefers [[calcareous]] [[clay]] soil or [[limestone]]-based woodland soils. This deciduous plant belongs to the rose family, [[Rosaceae]], and is found mainly in the central [[United States]]. It is a shrub consisting of slender stems with [[umbel]] clusters of white [[blossom]]s. The [[fruit]] is a [[drupe]] that resembles a large [[Berry (botany)|berry]]; though it has a [[bitter (taste)#Bitterness|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.
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| − | ==Description==
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| − | 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 (2.0-2.4 inches) long and 2-3 centimeters (0.8-1.2 inches)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.<ref name=Stephen>{{cite book|last=Stephens|first=H.A.|title=Plants of the North Central Plains|year=1973|publisher=University Press of Kansas|location=Kansas|isbn=978-0700601073|pages=286–287}}</ref> Flowers of this plant usually blossom around March to April. The inflorescence type is considered as raceme, where there are flower spikes from stalks that pawn out from the stem. The flowers themselves stretch in entirety of 12-16 millimeter. They occur in clusters of 2 to 8 on leaf axils. The pedicels on which the flowers are attached to are measured out of around 15-16 millimeter. They have a green and glabrous (without hair and smooth) surface.<ref name=Stephen/> The hypanthium is considered as the floral tube. (Fusion of sepals, petals and stamen fused in a tube) ''Prunus rivularis'' is defined as a perigynous plant. (major parts of the flower are aligned with a superior ovary) The hypanthium’s length and width is measured out to be 2 to 2.5 millimeters respectively; and they are considered glabrous. (Surface devoid of hairs) <ref name=Stephen/> 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. Interesting to note that the margins ciliate (have fine tiny hairs) and the sides are pubescent. (Have short hairs) <ref name=Stephen/> There are 5 white petals that are measured with a length of 5 millimeters. 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 millimeter 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 millimeter long while the style is white and is measured 5-6 millimeter long.<ref name=Stephen/> The fruit of the ripens in late July. It is a drupe with a stony endocarp, fleshy mesocarp and soft exocarp.<ref>{{cite web|last=Armstrong|first=W.P.|title=Wayne's Word|url=http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph8.htm|work=Fruits Called Nuts|accessdate=2012-04-29}}</ref> 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 millimeters long.<ref name=Stephen/> The fruit shape is globular and has an orangeish-reddish tint. It is 17-22 millimeters long as it is wide.<ref name=Stephen/> It has a very juicy mesocarp, though it is quite bitter in taste. The endocarp is 9-11 millimeters wide and 13-15 millimeters thick.<ref name=Stephen/>
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| − | ==Distribution and habitat==
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| − | ''Prunus rivularis'' is native to the United States; found in California, [[Arkansas]], southern [[Illinois]], south-eastern [[Kansas]], [[Kentucky]], northern [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], [[Missouri]], south-western [[Ohio]], [[Oklahoma]], [[Tennessee]], and [[Texas]].<ref name=grin/> It can be found in a variety of places in nature: places like creeksides, wooden canyons, bottom of valleys and flooded plains.<ref name=Johnson /><ref>{{cite web|last=Aggie|title=Creek Plum, Hog Plum, Thicket Plum|url=http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/prunusrivular.htm|work=Prunus rivularis|publisher=Texas Agrilife Extension System|accessdate=2012-04-26}}</ref> This plant grows on limestone-based woodland or sandy soil. The moisture of the soil can vary between dry and moist, though the soil has to be well drained. (In other words, water is readily removed from the soil). The preferred pH is slightly more alkaline (greater than 7.2). It is hardy to levels of 6-9 because of its varied distribution.<ref name=Johnson/> This implies that the USDA zones, or geographically designated zones of temperature of which plants can grow under, are found in the southern part of United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=United States National Arboretum|url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html|work=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|publisher=USDA|accessdate=2012-04-23}}</ref> The temperature ranges between -10° and 30° Fahrenheit. Again, because of the range of dispersion, the amount of precipitation this plant can experience is anywhere from 24 to 48 inches per year.<ref name=Johnson/>
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| − | ==Ecology ==
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| − | ''Prunus 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.<ref name=Johnson>{{cite web|last=Johnson|title=National Plant Database|url=http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRRI|work=Prunus rivularis Scheele|publisher=Lady Bird Johnson WildflowerCenter|accessdate=2012-04-25}}</ref>
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| − | ===Medicinal===
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| − | 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.<ref name=Commons/>
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| − | ==Usage==
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| − | The leaves can be used to produce dyes ranging from green to dark grey.<ref name=Commons>{{cite web|last=Creative Commons|title=Prunus rivularis - Scherle|url=http://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+rivularis|publisher=Ken Fern/Plants for a Future|accessdate=2012-04-29}}</ref>
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| − | The fruit was eaten by native American Indians in Texas.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yanovsky|first=Elias|title=Food plants of the North American Indians|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Agriculture|year=1936|pages=33|url=https://books.google.com/?id=x6soAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=%22Prunus+rivularis%22#v=onepage&q=%22Prunus%20rivularis%22&f=false}}</ref>
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| | ==Notes== | | ==Notes== |
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| | {{Reflist}} | | {{Reflist}} |
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| − | ==External links==
| + | {{Ack-Wikipedia}} |
| − | *[http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=13526 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, photo of fruit of ''Prunus rivularis'' in Texas]
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| − | *[http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100140759 photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Texas in 1846]
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| − | {{Taxonbar|from1=Q5411368|from2=Q3408647|from3=Q50851896}} | |
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| − | [[Category:Prunus|rivularis]] | + | [[Category:Prunus]] |
| − | [[Category:Plants described in 1848]] | + | [[Category:Plants for Keenan to eat]] |
| − | [[Category:Flora of the United States]]
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