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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The Oklahoma plum, also known as Prunus gracilis, is a small plant native to the south-central United States. People also call it the sour plum or sand plum. You can find it growing naturally in states like New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
This plant is a type of plum tree. Its scientific name, Gracilis, means 'slender branches', which describes its look.
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What is the Oklahoma Plum?
The Oklahoma plum usually grows as a small shrub, reaching about 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. It has pretty leaves with five petals. Its fruits are red and become ripe between June and August.
Uses of the Fruit
While the red fruits are not usually eaten fresh today because they are quite sour, they were important in the past. Native Americans would dry these plums. This allowed them to store the fruit and eat it during the cold winter months.
How it Grows
This plant often grows in groups, forming thick areas called thickets. The Oklahoma plum is a hermaphrodite, which means each plant has both male and female parts. Insects help pollinate the flowers, allowing the plant to make seeds and grow new plums.
Where Does the Oklahoma Plum Grow?
The Oklahoma plum is found naturally in several states across the United States. Its native range includes Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Preferred Living Areas
This plant likes to grow in many different places. You can often spot it along fence lines, in open woodlands, or at the edges of forests. It also thrives in clearings within forests, on hillsides, and along sandy roadsides. You might also find it in upland thickets and other wild, undeveloped areas. The Oklahoma plum typically grows at elevations between 100 and 1,300 meters (330 to 4,265 feet) above sea level.
Images for kids
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A 1913 illustration of the Oklahoma plum.
