Prunus serotina

Prunus 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 medium sized tree. It grows 22-25 m high. The trunk is 60 cm across. The bark is dark grey and smooth. The leaves are sword shaped and 5-15 cm long. They gradually taper to both ends. The upper surface is shiny bright green. It is paler underneath. The teeth are elongated and curve inwards. The flowers are in loose clusters. These are 10-15 cm long. They are at the end of new short, leafy shoots. The fruit are in drooping clusters of 6-12 fruit. The fruit are 8-10 mm across. They are dark reddish-black. They are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked in pies, jellies, stews, and similar dishes, but must be fully ripe to avoid bitterness. Flavour ranges from sweet to bitter, with the best fruits having thin skin, juicy flesh, and a pleasant vinous taste; fruits from plants grown in sunny positions tend to taste best. The fruit, about 9mm in diameter with one large seed, can also be used as a flavouring. An infusion of the twigs makes a drinkable beverage, and a bark extract is used commercially to flavour soft drinks, sweets, syrups, and baked goods. The seed is edible raw or cooked, but should not be eaten if excessively bitter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are used for jelly and wine. They are also stewed, and used for pies. The bark is the source of an extract used for flavouring drinks, syrups and baked goods. The twigs are used to make a drink. The fruit are also mashed, made into small cakes and dried for later use.

Medicinal Uses

Rum cherry was widely used medicinally by various Native North American tribes, though it is little used in modern herbalism. The bark of the root, trunk, and branches is antitussive, astringent, pectoral, sedative, stomachic, and tonic. Medicinal properties are destroyed by boiling, so the plant should only be steeped in warm water. Root bark and aromatic inner bark have expectorant and mild sedative properties; a tea from either has been used to ease pain in early labour and to treat fevers, colds, sore throats, and diarrhoea. Bark is harvested in autumn and should not be stored longer than one year, as it quickly loses potency; young thin bark is preferred. A decoction of inner bark has been used for laryngitis, and a root bark wash has been applied to old sores and ulcers. The bark contains the glycoside prunasin, which converts in the digestive tract to the highly toxic hydrocyanic acid; prunasin levels peak in autumn. In small amounts, this compound stimulates respiration, aids digestion, and produces a sense of well-being. The fruit is astringent and has been used to treat dysentery.

Known Hazards

The seeds and leaves of this species contain high quantities of hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is readily detected by its bitter taste. Usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm, any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death. Discard the seeds. Keep plant way from children.

Distribution

It is native to North America. It grows in woods, pastures and along roadsides. It grows well on a wide variety of soils. It is intolerant of shade. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andes, Australia, Austria, Belize, Belgium, Bolivia, Britain, Burundi, Canada, Central America, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Europe, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, North America, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Scandinavia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA*, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil. Requires a warm sunny position. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on limestone. Prefers some chalk in the soil but apt to become chlorotic if too much is present. A fast-growing and moderately long-lived tree in the wild, producing a heavy fruit crop about once every 4 years. It is cultivated for its timber in C. Europe. This species produces an abundance of flowers and usually fruits well in Britain. In the wild the tree begins to fruit when about 10 years old and then continues for about 100 years, fruiting well in most years. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed requires 2–3 months of cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible, with protection from mice. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking up to 18 months. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a greenhouse or cold frame, and plant out in late spring or early summer the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel can be taken in July/August in a frame. Softwood cuttings from vigorous plants can be taken in spring to early summer in a frame. Layering can be done in spring.

Other Uses

A green dye can be extracted from the leaves, and the fruit yields a dark grey to green dye. The wood is close and straight-grained, light, strong, rather hard, and highly shock-resistant. It bends, works, and finishes well, glues and seasons well, shrinks moderately, and is moderately free from checking and warping. It weighs approximately 36lb per cubic foot and takes a beautiful polish, making it widely used for furniture, cabinetmaking, and interior finishing.

Production

It lives for 150 years. Abundant seed crops occur every 3-4 years.

Notes

There are about 200 Prunus species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Capuli, Chaucha, Duraznillo, Rum cherry, Usun, Xinrrenz'e

References (39)

• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994) (As Prunus serotina var. salicifolia)
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 842
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 839
• Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 77
• Caballero, J. N., & Mapes, C. S., 1985, Gathering and Subsistence Patterns among the P'urhepecha Indians of Mexico. J. Ethnol. 5(1): 31-47

More from Rosaceae

Rubus setosus

Bristly blackberry, Small bristleberry

Rubus shankii

Shank's blackberry

Rubus sieboldii

Palm-leaf Dewberry

Rubus sikkimensis

Rubus simplex

Rubus smithii