Prunus eremophila

Prunus eremophila

Critically Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Species: P. eremophila
Binomial name
Prunus eremophila
Prigge

Prunus eremophila is a rare species of plum that is known by its common name Mojave Desert plum.[1] It is endemic to San Bernardino County, California, where it is known only from the Vontrigger Hills[2] of the eastern Mojave National Preserve, including Lanfair Valley. It occurs in Mojave Desert scrub habitat.[3] The plant was described to science only in 2001[2] or 2002 and little is known about its ecology.[4][5]

This is a bulky[2] shrub with tangled, thorny branches. It reaches over two meters in maximum height.

The deciduous leaves have toothed, pointed, oval blades up to 2 or 3 centimeters long. They are lightly hairy in texture.

It blooms in March to April.[2] The flowers occur singly or in pairs, each bearing small white petals. Either the stamens or pistils abort, leaving female or male flowers.[2]

The fruit is orange-rust[2] or a yellowish, fuzzy drupe up to 1.6 centimeters wide, with a thin, dry pulp.[2]

The plant occurs in a national preserve, so it is protected from some human activity, but it may still be impacted by off-road vehicles, grazing, mining, and climate change.[4]

References

  1. "Prunus eremophila". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam Mackay, 2nd ed., p173
  3. California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
  4. 1 2 The Nature Conservancy
  5. Prigge, B. A. (2002). A new species of Prunus (Rosaceae) from the Mojave Desert of California. Madroño 49 285–288.

External links

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