PRUNUS CERASIFERA

Family and Genus:- See- ROSACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Prunus The ancient Latin name for the plum tree.

Cerasifera (L) Bearing cherries.

General description:- Shrub or tree up to 8 m,

Branches:-

1) Numerous intricate, fine, sometimes spiny.

a) twigs, reddish-black to dark brown, glabrous. young twigs, glabrous and

glossy.

Leaves:-

1) 4-7 x 2-3·5 cm, oblong-obovate, cuneate at the base, regularly crenate or

appressed-serrate, glabrous and glossy above, pubescent on the veins beneath.

2) Petiole, 5-15 mm, usually pubescent.

Flowers:-

1) Mostly solitary, appearing with or slightly before the leaves.

2) Pedicel, c. 2-8(-20) mm, glabrous.

3) Petals, 8-10 mm, usually white.

Fruit:-

1) Drupe, 20-30 mm, globose, glabrous, red or yellow; endocarp subglobose,

keeled, smooth.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, regularly crenate, or serrate with inconspicuous teeth directed strongly

towards the apex.

2) Drupe, 20-30 mm,

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Open woodland, rocky outcrops in meadows, gorges. 400-1400 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece, but doubtfully native on the Aegean

islands, Balkan Peninsula and SW to C Asia, Very rare on Crete, known from only

one location (see map). This record certainly refers to subspontaneous material ⁽¹⁾.

(¹) Arne Strid (Atlas of the Aegean Flora, Part 2 Maps)

Flowering time:- Apr-May.

Photos by:- Courtesy of Wiki-Commons