Kingdom | Plantae |
Division | Magnoliophyta |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Rosales |
Family | Rosaceae |
Genus | Prunus |
Species | P. avium |
Binomial name | Prunus avium |
Other Common Names:
The other common names for Cherry are Bird Cherry, Gean, Mazzard, Mazzard Cherry, Sweet Cherry and Wild Cherry.
History
Prunus avium originated in the area between the Black and Caspian seas of Asia Minor. Birds may have carried it to Europe prior to human civilization. Cultivation probably began with Greeks, and was perpetuated by Romans, where it was believed to be an essential part of the Legionnaire's diet (this lead to the spread throughout Europe). Trees were planted along roadsides and were valued for their timber as well as their fruit.
Description
Shallow root system, predominantly horizontally spreading with dense fibrous roots. The main side roots are very strong, often board-like, vertical roots are less developed, in 50 to 70 year old trees on deep loess-loam only around 60 cm deep, on silt-loam to a maximum depth of 100 cm.Medium sized tree with a rounder, more spreading habit than the erect sweet cherry. Leaves elliptic with acute tips mildly serrate margins, smaller than sweet cherry, with long petioles .
Range
Sweet cherries are closely related to the wild cherries that were indigenous in the region of the Caucasus Mountains that lie between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The southern portion, now Azerbaijian, as well as northern Turkey and Iran, were also home to the sweet cherry. It is widely distributed in Europe to Asia Minor, Caucasus and western Siberia. In Germany very common in low mountain ranges, in south and south-western Germany in the Alps to an altitude of 1700 m.
Habitat
Cherry is generally found in deciduous and coniferous woodlands with a well developed under storey, usually in oak-hornbeam woodlands, on woodland edges, streams, in scrub vegetation, hedges and hedgerows; on deep, nutrient-rich, moist and calcareous loamy soils.
Cultivation
Seeds require 2 - 3 months cold stratification and are best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame. Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame. Division of suckers in the dormant season. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions followed by layering in spring.
Flowering Season
White, in clusters, single flowers is 2.5 cm wide, appearing shortly before the leaves in April to May.
Pests and Diseases
The causal agent is Pseudomonas syringae pv morsprunorum. Susceptible trees include Prunus avium (wild cherry) and its ornamental and fruiting varieties and other Prunus species including plums, peach and apricot. Symptoms usually consist of scattered shoots which fail to flush in the spring, but sometimes this can affect entire branches or even whole young trees. Close inspection will reveal large areas of dead and dying bark, usually girdling shoots or branches, and an amber coloured gum also exudes from affected areas. The most destructive pest to attack cherry trees is birds. They can strip every fruit from a cherry tree in record time. Netting should be used to prevent birds from stripping fruits. Other pests that may affect cherry trees are aphids, cherry maggot, and plum curculio. Two diseases which might be found on cherry trees are brown rot (Sclerotinia fructigena) and cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii or Coccomyces hiemalis).
Parts Used
The bark and the fruit are the most commonly used parts of the tree for its commercial and medicinal purposes.
Medicinal Applications
• Herbal wild cherry syrups are anti-viral & anti-bacterial and most helpful for sinus, upper respiratory infections, colds & flu.
• Medicine can be prepared from the stalks of the drupes that are astringent, antitussive, and diuretic.
• A decoction is used in the treatment of cystitis, oedema, bronchial complaints, looseness of the bowels and anaemia.
Commercial Applications
• It is used in many commercial cough products such as Smith Brothers, Lunden's and Vicks for the flavour as well as the decongestant and sedative properties.
• The wood is used for turnery, furniture and instruments.
• The gum from bark wounds is aromatic and can be chewed as a substitute for chewing gum.
• A green dye can also be prepared from the plant.
• The fruit can be cooked in pies etc or used to make preserves.
• It is used in salad dressing and cakes.
The owner of a Cherry tree could be sure of having a rich crop of fruit if the first cherry to ripen was eaten by a woman who recently gave birth to her first child. Forest demons were believed to live in Cherry trees according to Danish folklore. In Lithuania the guardian of the Cherry was called 'Kirnis'. According to Serbian folklore the 'Vila' is beautiful female creatures similar to Fairies and Elves. These mystical creatures live in the hills and forests, often by Cherry trees loving to pass their time singing and dancing.
Always clad in white, with long hair the only danger they cause is the breaking of men's hearts as they fly over. When travelling through the forests the Vila make a sound similar to that of the woodpecker, and ride seven year old stags which are bridled with snakes. Folklore has it that should a parent discipline a child and indicate that they have the Devil in them, or should be sent to him, then the Vila are thought to have a right to take the child, perhaps to protect it. Buddhism teaches that Maya, the virgin mother of Buddha, was supported by a holy cherry tree during her pregnancy.