sweet cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bird cherry
• crab cherry
• gean
• mazzard cherry
• sweet cherry
• wild cherry
• Gean Cherry
• Mazzard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Prunus avium f. duracina
• Prunus avium var. regalis
• Prunus avium proles silvestris
• Prunus bigarella
• Cerasus avium f. acuminatissima
• Cerasus avium f. pendula
• Cerasus avium var. duracina
• Cerasus avium subsp. duracina
• Prunus avium subsp. duracina
• Cerasus avium proles duracina
• Cerasus avium f. aspleniifolia
• Cerasus avium var. rubroactina
• Prunus avium proles sylvestris
• Cerasus dulcis proles sylvestris
• Cerasus avium subsp. sylvestris
• Prunus avium var. sylvestris
• Cerasus avium f. microcarpa
• Cerasus dulcis proles juliana
• Cerasus avium var. juliana
• Cerasus avium proles juliana
• Cerasus avium convar. juliana
• Prunus avium subsp. juliana
• Prunus avium var. juliana
• Prunus avium f. juliana
• Cerasus avium var. juliana
• Druparia avium
• Cerasus avium
• Prunus cerasus subsp. avium
• Prunus bigarella var. duracina
• Prunus avium f. nigricans
• Cerasus avium var. melanocarpa
• Cerasus regalis
• Cerasus sylvestris
• Cerasus sylvestris var. dulcis
• Cerasus hortensis var. parva
• Prunus cerasus var. avium
• Cerasus nigricans
• Prunus avium subsp. actiana
• Cerasus dulcis proles duracina
• Prunus avium f. acuminatissima
• Cerasus pallida
• Prunus duracina
• Prunus duracina var. erythrocarpa
• Prunus duracina var. melanocarpa
• Prunus duracina var. ochroleucocarpa
• Prunus avium var. actiana
• Prunus avium f. asplenifolia
• Cerasus regalis var. communis
• Prunus avium var. bigarella
• Prunus avium f. brevipetiolata
• Prunus avium var. asplenifolia
• Prunus avium lusus asplenifolia
• Cerasus sativa var. multifera
• Prunus avium f. fastigiata
• Prunus avium var. silvestris
• Prunus avium subvar. flava
• Cerasus regalis var. praecox
• Prunus avium f. decumana
• Prunus avium var. decumana
• Cerasus regalis var. serotina
• Prunus avium var. dulcis
• Prunus avium var. duracina
• Cerasus sativa
• Prunus avium subsp. sylvestris
• Prunus avium proles duracina
• Cerasus sylvestris var. amara
• Prunus avium var. nana
• Cerasus tenera
• Prunus avium f. nana
• Cerasus tenera nigra
• Prunus avium var. pendula
• Cerasus varia
• Prunus avium lusus pendula
• Prunus avium f. pendula
• Prunus avium monstr. plena
• Cerasus avium var. rubra
• Prunus avium f. plena
• Prunus avium var. praemorsa
• Prunus avium subsp. rubroactina
• Cerasus bigarella francofurtensis
• Prunus avium var. pyramidalis
• Cerasus avium f. salicifolia
• Prunus avium lusus pyramidalis
• Prunus avium var. variegata
• Cerasus avium f. sphenophylla
• Cerasus bigarella magna
• Cerasus bigarella rocmontis
• Prunus avium proles juliana
• Cerasus avium var. sylvestris
• Prunus avium var. salicifolia
• Prunus avium f. salicifolia
• Cerasus avium f. varia
• Cerasus bigarella rostrata
• Prunus avium var. karpatii
• Cerasus avium var. lutea
• Prunus avium var. macrocarpa
• Cerasus avium subvar. lutea
• Cerasus avium sativa
• Prunus avium subvar. rubra
• Prunus avium f. sphenophylla
• Cerasus avium var. variegata
• Cerasus bigarella
• Prunus avium f. mamillaris
• Cerasus avium var. macrocarpa
• Prunus avium var. microcarpa
• Prunus varia var. rubella
• Cerasus bigarella amarella
• Cerasus avium melanocarpa
• Cerasus avium var. multiplex
• Prunus bigarella var. juliana
• Cerasus avium f. nana
• Cerasus avium var. nigra
• Cerasus bigarella communis
• Prunus cerasus var. actiana
• Cerasus avium f. nigricans
• Cerasus anglica
• Cerasus anglica var. praecox
• Prunus cerasus var. dulcis
• Cerasus avium var. pallida
• Prunus cerasus var. juliana
• Cerasus avium var. pendula
• Prunus nigricans
• Prunus nigricans var. dulcis
• Cerasus avium f. plena
• Prunus varia
• Cerasus avicularis
• Cerasus duracina
• Cerasus duracina var. cordigera
• Cerasus avium var. dulcis
• Cerasus duracina erythrocarpa
• Cerasus duracina var. latifolia
• Cerasus avium f. duracina
• Cerasus avium convar. duracina
• Cerasus avium var. erythrocarpa
• Cerasus avium var. amara
• Cerasus avium var. aspleniifolia
• Cerasus avium f. brevipetiolata
• Cerasus avium erythrocarpa
• Cerasus avium fastigiata
• Cerasus avium var. flava
• Cerasus avium grandifolia
• Cerasus avium subsp. juliana
• Cerasus avium f. juliana
• Cerasus avium f. karpatii
• Cerasus duracina var. mamillaris
• Cerasus duracina melanocarpa
• Cerasus duracina var. obtusata
• Cerasus decumana
• Cerasus heaumiana
• Cerasus avium f. decumana
• Cerasus juliana var. matutina
• Cerasus duracina ochroleuca
• Cerasus duracina var. tarda
• Cerasus dulcis
• Cerasus juliana
• Cerasus juliana var. maura
• Cerasus juliana var. uncialis
• Cerasus avium var. sativa
• Cerasus avium var. major
• Cerasus hortensis var. acidula
• Cerasus hortensis var. majalis
• Cerasus juliana var. alba
• Cerasus hortensis var. nigra
• Prunus cerasus var. duracina
• Prunus cerasus var. bigarella
• Prunus avium var. tazekkensis
• Prunus avium var. silvestris
• Cerasus juliana var. maxima
• Cerasus juliana var. media
• Cerasus juliana var. meridionalis
• Cerasus juliana var. minuta
• Cerasus juliana var. afra
• Cerasus juliana erythrocarpa
• Cerasus juliana var. heaumiana
• Cerasus juliana var. magna
• Cerasus juliana var. marasca
• Cerasus juliana var. marrona
• Prunus avium f. silvestris
• Cerasus juliana var. muscata
• Cerasus juliana var. muscatella
• Cerasus juliana var. nigra
• Cerasus juliana ochroleuca
• Cerasus juliana var. pendula
• Cerasus juliana var. praecox
• Cerasus juliana var. pulchella
• Cerasus juliana var. rotundata
• Cerasus juliana var. serotina

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is classified under the genus Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Prunus avium, can be found growing across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, it is distributed throughout the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence is also noted across the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the northern territories of Norway. Together, these locations define its geographical footprint within the northern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus avium is characterized by its preference for specific forest environments, where it is most commonly found thriving within dense forests or along well-illuminated forest edges. This species demonstrates a significant vertical distribution across varied landscapes, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 500 m AMSL and extends to a maximum altitude of 2200 m AMSL. Throughout its natural distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 771 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to the diverse climatic and topographical conditions found within these montane and temperate woodland ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

771 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges

Life history

The life history of Prunus avium is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons and maintains its structural integrity over long periods. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a growth form that allows it to dominate its ecological niche through significant vertical development. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually to enter a period of dormancy, a strategy that helps it manage environmental stressors and resource conservation. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, phanerophyte life form, and deciduous habit defines its long-term survival strategy and seasonal physiological shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus avium is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it grows independently without parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant variation in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 25 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 15.41 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

15.4133333333333 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus avium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by its leaves, which exhibit a mean length of 8 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 13 cm, and a mean width of 4.25 cm, with values spanning from 2 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. These leaf dimensions contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 134.5 cm²/g, reflecting the structural investment in leaf tissue relative to its mass. Additionally, the plant's structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 590 mg/cm³.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

134.5 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

590 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus avium is driven by biotic processes, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May, during which the plant relies on cross-pollination as self-fertilization is absent and asexual reproduction is also not present. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a fleshy, indehiscent fruit classified as a drupe. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 2 cm (ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 cm) and a mean width of approximately 1.57 cm (ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 cm). The dispersal of the plant is zoochorous, meaning it relies on animals for seed distribution. Inside the drupe, the seeds possess a mean length of 10 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.238 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.1182 g to a maximum of 0.2475 g. The seed volume is consistently recorded at 180 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.57333333333333 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

10 mm

Seed mass max:

0.2475 g

Seed mass mean:

0.2380964545 g

Seed mass min:

0.1182 g

Seed volume max:

180 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Prunus avium has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include AMYLASE, ANTHOCYANIN, Anthocyanins, Coumarins, Cyanidin.

AMYLASE

1. Dr. Duke

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Anthocyanins

1. Anti-inflammatory & anti-allergy agents in medicinal chemistry

Coumarins

1. Current rheumatology reviews

Cyanidin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Anti-inflammatory & anti-allergy agents in medicinal chemistry

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

Phenols

1. Anti-inflammatory & anti-allergy agents in medicinal chemistry

Prunetin

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

RUTIN

1. Cancers

Activities

Prunus avium has 75 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Prunus avium has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, Candida albicans, Gout, arthritis, cancers.

Cancer

1. Life sciences
2. Journal of food science

Candida albicans

1. Anti-inflammatory & anti-allergy agents in medicinal chemistry

Gout

1. Current rheumatology reviews

Arthritis

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Cancers

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

Gastric cancer

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

Inflammation

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Multidrug resistance

1. Journal of food science

Obesity

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology