St. Lucie cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• St. Lucie cherry
• mahaleb cherry
• perfumed cherry
• rock cherry
• St Lucie Cherry
• St. Lucie's Cherry
• Gandhi cherry
• Mahlab Cherry
• Mahleb Cherry
• Saint Lucie Cherry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Padus mahaleb
• Padellus mahaleb
• Mahaleb vulgaris
• Cerasus mahaleb

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling within the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established under the genus Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found in Denmark and Great Britain. The species also extends further north into the territories of Norway and Sweden. Additionally, its range reaches into Middle Europe, specifically within Austria. Together, these locations define the documented habitats for Prunus mahaleb in these areas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus mahaleb is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, where it thrives across a varied landscape of forests, mountain slopes, shrubberies, and stony places. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, with an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1378 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize rocky and disturbed terrain within these mountainous habitats suggests a robust adaptability to different soil compositions and microclimates found within these ecological zones.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1378 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Prunus mahaleb is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level, typically manifesting as a woody shrub or small tree. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes. Within the classification of life forms, it is strictly identified as a phanerophyte, ensuring its structural longevity and ability to withstand varying environmental conditions over its lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus mahaleb is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as both a shrub and a tree. As a terrestrial and independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, nor does it require climbing support, being entirely self-supporting in its natural habitat. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1.2 m to a maximum of 13 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Plant height min:

1.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus mahaleb is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than specialized leaf structures for prey capture. The leaf morphology exhibits specific dimensional variations, with an average leaf length of 4.25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm) and an average leaf width of 2.65 cm (ranging from 1 cm to 4 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of 7.534 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 168.62 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for balancing light interception with resource conservation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.534 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.65 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

168.62 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus mahaleb is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. A notable aspect of its reproductive biology is that self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits are relatively small, with an average length of 0.75 cm (ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 cm) and an average width of approximately 0.73 cm (ranging from 0.7 to 0.8 cm). The dispersal of these fruits follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are spread by animals. Within the fruit, the seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.084 g, with values ranging from 0.0472 g to 0.1125 g, and a consistent seed volume of 84 mm³. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction through seed production the primary means of propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.726666666666667 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.1125 g

Seed mass mean:

0.08435333325 g

Seed mass min:

0.0472 g

Seed volume max:

84 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prunus mahaleb has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed.

Fruit

1. Food science & nutrition

Leaf

1. Food science & nutrition

Seed

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Prunus mahaleb has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Herniarin, ferulic acid, Flavonoids, Isoleucine, Nonamide.

Herniarin

1. PeerJ
2. Food science & nutrition

ferulic acid

1. PeerJ
2. Food science & nutrition

Flavonoids

1. Food science & nutrition

Isoleucine

1. PeerJ

Nonamide

1. PeerJ

Pyroglutamic acid

1. PeerJ

choline

1. PeerJ

citric acid

1. PeerJ

coumarin

1. PeerJ

genistein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Prunus mahaleb has 72 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant, Antiangiogenic.

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

Antiendoccytotic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Prunus mahaleb has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform, methanol, seeds, water.

Chloroform

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences

Methanol

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences

Seeds

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Water

1. Turkish journal of medical sciences