Prunus serotina var. eximia
Ehrh., (Small) Little
Escarpment black cherry
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Summary
Source: WikipediaPrunus serotina, commonly called black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family Rosaceae. Despite its common names, it is not very closely related to commonly cultivated cherries. It is found in the Americas.
Description
A tree.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
Prunus serotina subsp. capuli was cultivated in Central and South America well before European contact. Known as capolcuahuitl in Nahuatl (the source of the capuli epithet), it was an important food in pre-Columbian Mexico. Native Americans ate the fruit. Edible raw, the fruit is also made into jelly, and the juice can be used as a drink mixer, hence the common name 'rum cherry'. Prunus serotina timber is valuable, perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the U.S., traded as "cherry". High quality cherry timber is known for its strong orange hues, tight grain and high price. Low-quality wood, as well as the sap wood, can be more tan. Its density when dried is around 560 kg/m3 (35 lb/cu ft). Prunus serotina was widely introduced into Western and Central Europe as an ornamental tree in the mid-20th century, where it has become locally naturalized. It has acted as an invasive species there, negatively affecting forest community biodiversity and regeneration.
Traditional Uses
Only the fruit is edible.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows on limestone or calcareous soils. It occurs in Texas.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
References (1)
- USDA plants
