Prunus padus

For the subgenus Padus, see Bird cherry (subgenus).

Not to be confused with Prunus avium, meaning "bird cherry".

Prunus padus
Bird cherry flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Prunoideae
Genus:	Prunus
Subgenus:	Padus[1]
Species:	P. padus
Binomial name
Prunus padus L.
Synonyms
Cerasus padus (L.) Delarbre Prunus racemosa Lam.

Bird cherries (drupes)

A Bird Cherry tree in full bloom.

Prunus padus, known as Bird Cherry or Hackberry, is a species of cherry, native to northern Europe and northern Asia. It is a deciduous small tree or large shrub, 8–16 m tall, which grows north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is the type species of the subgenus Padus, which have flowers in racemes.

Characteristics

The English name "hackberry"^[2] refers to the fruit, which is astringent and bitter-sweet.

There are two varieties:

• European Bird Cherry Prunus padus var. padus, Europe and western Asia.
• Asian Bird Cherry Prunus padus var. commutata, eastern Asia.

Ecology

The flowers are hermaphroditic and pollinated by bees and flies. The fruit is readily eaten by birds, which do not taste astringency as unpleasant.

Uses

The fruit of this tree is seldom used in western Europe, but is commonly eaten farther east.

It was used medicinally during the Middle Ages.^{[clarification needed]}

The bark of the tree, placed at the door, was supposed to ward off plague.^{[clarification needed]}

It is also sold as an ornamental in North America as a May Day tree.^{[clarification needed]}

A taboo on the use of the wood was reported by natives of Advie, in northeast Scotland, being regarded as a "witches tree".^[2]

See also

• Taphrina padi - A Pocket Plum gall that occurs on Bird Cherry

References

1. ^ Rehder, A. 1940, reprinted 1977. Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs hardy in North America exclusive of the subtropical and warmer temperate regions. Macmillan publishing Co., Inc, New York.
2. ^ ^{a b} Walter Gregor, "Some Folklore of Trees, Animals, and River-fishing from the N.E. of Scotland" The Folk-Lore Journal. Volume 7, 1889. p. 41.

External links

• Bird cherry information and pictures
• Tips to identify bird cherry from btcv
• Prunus padus Sweden Wildflowers