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