American plum tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American red plum
• American wild plum
• goose plum
• wild plum
• wild red plum
• wild yellow plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Padus canadensis
• Cerasus americana
• Prunus americana f. rosea
• Prunus hyemalis
• Prunus acinaria
• Prunus americana var. floridana
• Cerasus hyemalis
• Prunus americana subvar. acuminata
• Prunus americana var. rosea
• Prunus coccinea
• Prunus domestica var. americana
• Prunus mississipi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is classified under the genus Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Prunus americana, exhibits a broad presence across several Canadian provinces. In Western Canada, its range extends through the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Moving toward the eastern part of the country, the species can also be found in Ontario. Its distribution continues further east into the province of Québec. Finally, the plant's geographical reach includes the Atlantic region of New Brunswick.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Prunus americana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a long-lived woody shrub or small tree, its development begins with seed germination, followed by a period of vegetative establishment where it develops a robust root system and woody structure. Over its extended lifespan, the plant undergoes seasonal cycles of dormancy during colder months and active growth during the spring and summer, marked by the emergence of foliage and flowering. The reproductive phase involves the production of blossoms that facilitate pollination, eventually leading to the development of drupes that serve as the vehicle for seed dispersal, ensuring the continuation of its perennial life cycle across the landscape.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus americana is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies. The height of the species varies significantly depending on environmental conditions and developmental stage, with recorded minimum heights starting at 1 m and maximum heights reaching up to 2 m, though the mean plant height is documented at 5.95 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

5.95 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus americana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Under this pathway, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide is catalyzed by the enzyme RuBisCO, resulting in the formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant is most efficient in temperate environments where moderate temperatures and sufficient water availability minimize the occurrence of photorespiration. The physiological regulation of its gas exchange and water use efficiency is closely tied to its stomatal conductance, which balances the intake of CO2 for glucose synthesis against the loss of water vapor through transpiration. Furthermore, its energy assimilation is integrated into a complex system of carbohydrate storage and distribution, supporting the seasonal growth cycles and reproductive development typical of deciduous woody species.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus americana is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and the production of seeds with measurable physical variations. The flowering period typically commences in March and concludes in May, though the timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a range of weights; the mass of these seeds varies from a minimum of 0.52137 g to a maximum of 1.695 g, with an overall average seed mass of approximately 0.645452 g.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

May

Seed mass max:

1.695 g

Seed mass mean:

0.645452 g

Seed mass min:

0.52137 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prunus americana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Prunus americana has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, polyphenols, 10-nonacosanol, 3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Anthocyanins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Food chemistry

polyphenols

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

10-nonacosanol

1. Dr. Duke

3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Food chemistry

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Condensed Tannins

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cyanidin

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside

1. Food chemistry

Hyperoside

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Prunus americana has 327 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitumor, Cytotoxic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Prunus americana has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include DCM extracts, MeOH extracts.

Dcm extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Meoh extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR