Common bird cherry (Prunus soles)

Common bird cherry (Prunus soles)

Appearance: A deciduous tree shedding its leaves for the winter (rarely shrub), reaching 10 do 17 m in height, with conical, quite a slender crown, which becomes more and more columnar and vaulted over time.

The trunk is usually quite straight and slender.

The branches rise arched, they are not massive, for it with numerous side, loosely spaced twigs.

Smooth bark, very dark – brown-gray or almost black – it gives off quite an unpleasant smell when rubbed. Shoots also smooth, shiny and brown, donuts very slender and pointed, adhering to the twigs. Leaves twisted, obovate, elliptical or oblong, with a short but slender tip, usually round at the base, sometimes heart-shaped, about the length 5-9 cm and width 3-7 cm, gently serrated at the edges, matt and dark green on top, and brighter underneath. Leaf petioles approx 2 cm, they have one or two greenish gonads.

Flowers, unlike other members of the genus Prunus, are usually focused after 20-40 in hanging or arched clusters of length 7-12 centimeters. Individual flowers are approx 1,8 cm wide, The crown petals are pure white, delicately serrated at the edges.

Fruits - spherical or slightly oblong drupes, with a thickness of approx 7 mm, they are black, a little shiny, with a slightly bitter taste.

Habitat: It occurs especially in the deep, very fertile and well-hydrated soils.

Occurrence: In Europe and Asia Minor, it is widespread in riparian forests and other deciduous reservoirs. Increasingly, it is also planted as an ornamental plant or as a street tree.

Flowering period: April to May. A related species: American bird cherry originating from North America (Prunus serotina) it has shiny, dark green, slightly leathery leaves and blooms only at the turn of May and June, Often planted as an ornamental tree. Little, slightly shiny drupes have little fruit flesh.