HLC-05

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Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Common Name: Black Cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
Other Names:

Leaf: Simple, alternate; long narrow oval; tapered at both ends; tip pointed; 6-14 cm long; upper side shiny dark green; underside paler with cork-coloured fuzz along midvein; thick, somewhat leathery texture; incurved teeth.
Flower: Tiny; 5-petalled; in loose clusters 9-14 cm long, at end of new shoots; after leaves fully grown; contain both male and female parts; insect pollinated
Fruit: In hanging clusters, on yellow central stem; round, 8-10 mm in diameter; turn from green to red to black at maturity in late summer or early fall; cherries thick-skinned, with bittersweet pulp; wine-like flavour; contain 1 pit.
Twig: Slender, reddish brown, with gray film and pores; bitter almond odour when broken; buds slightly flattened, lower half hugging the twig; reddish or greenish brown; spiraling around twig.
Bark: On younger trees, smooth, dark reddish brown, with grayish horizontal raised pores; on older trees, charcoal black, with large flakey scales loose at the edges.
Wood: Moderately heavy, hard, strong, stiff; fine-textured; heartwood rich deep red to reddish brown, durable; thin sapwood yellowish white; annual growth rings distinct.

Facts About This Tree:
1. Wild black cherry fruits can be eaten raw or used in jelly, syrup, wine, juice and pies.
2. Black cherry was once very popular in furniture and in frames for engravings and etchings. Because of its early popularity, this tree is now scarce throughout its range.
3. In 1629, wild black cherry became one of the first trees introduced to English horticulture from North America.

Lat, Long: 43.73725, -79.7878
Diameter (DBH): 31.5 cm
Last Year Modified: 2015
Carbon Stored in this Tree: 214.4 kg of C
Equivalent CO2: 786.055 kg of C

Find more trees in Heart Lake Conservation Area.

Reference
1. Blouin, Glen. 2001. An Eclectic Guide to Trees East of the Rockies. Erin, ON. Boston Mills Press
2. Linda Kershaw. 2001. Trees of Ontario. Edmonton, AB Canada. Lone Pine Publishing
3. Photo Credit: Kathryn Chin; Daniel J. Kim, and Wikimedia Commons

Copyright 2015 Association for Canadian Educational Resources