Prunus avium, L.

14. P. avium L. View in CoL , FI. Suec. ed. 2, 165 (1755)

( Cerasus avium (L.) Moench ).

Tree 1O-2O(-3O) m, with well-defined trunk and horizontal branches; young twigs glabrous; bark reddish-brown, peeling off in paper-like strips. Leaves 8-15 x 4-7 cm, obovateoblong, acuminate, crenate-serrate with deep but obtuse teeth, glabrous but dull above, usually with some persistent pubescence beneath, drooping when young; petiole 2-5 cm, with 2 conspicuous glands at the top. Flowers in sessile umbels of 2-6, with mainly scarious bud-scales at the base; pedicels 2-5 cm; hypanthium urceolate (constricted at mouth). Petals 9-15 mm, white. Fruit 9-12 mm, globose, dark red (also creamy-yellow, bright red or black in cultivars), sweet or bitter; endocarp subglobose, smooth. 2n = 16. Most of Europe, except the extreme north and east, but rare as a native in the Mediterranean region. Widely cultivatedfor its fruit, and often naturalized. Al Au Be Br Bu?Co Cz Da Ga Ge Gr Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (C, W, K) Sa Su Tu [Bl].

From this species are derived most of the sweet cherries. There seems to be little evidence for the assertion made by many authors that this species is native only to W. Asia; its native status in N.W. & C. Europe is attested by archaeological and subfossil evidence.