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Much-branched, often thorny shrub or small tree to 5 m, forming thickets; lvs scarcely developed at anthesis, at maturity trough-shaped, lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 3–6 cm, acute or short-acuminate, smooth and shining above, very finely serrulate, the teeth 12–20 per cm, bearing a gland near the sinus; pedicels (3–8 mm), hypanthium, and outer side of the sep smooth or nearly so, the inner side of the sep hairy especially near the base; pet 4–6 mm; fr subglobose, red, not glaucous, 1–1.5 cm thick; stone turgid. Usually in sandy or sterile soil, open woods, thickets, and fence-rows; chiefly from Va. to Fla., w. to Kans. and Tex., but also irregularly to s. N.J., s. O., Ind., Ill., and Neb. Apr.
A shrub or small tree. It forms thickets. The branches are slender and spreading. It grows 1.5-4.6 m high. The trunk is 10 cm across. The bark is shiny and reddish. It is thin and forms slight cracks. The leaves are 2.5-6 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. They are sword shaped with the sides slightly curved up. There are sharp teeth along the edge. The leaves are shiny green above and dull and paler underneath. The leaf stalks are red and slender. The flowers are 10 mm wide with 5 rounded white petals. There are 2-4 flowers in clusters on short equal stalks. The fruit is a plum 12-19 mm across. The skin is shiny red or yellow. There is a thick, juicy edible pulp. There is a large stone.
