Prunus cerasus, L.

15. P. cerasus L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 474 (1753) View Cited Treatment

( Cerasus vulgaris Miller ; incl. C. austera (L.) Borkh. , C. collina Lej. & Court. ).

Like 14 but usually a shrub (sometimes a small tree up to 8 m, but with ill-defined trunk and many suckers); leaves somewhat smaller, glossy above, glabrescent beneath, firmer and not drooping; petiole 1-3 cm, often without glands; many bud-scales at base of umbels with leaf-like tip; hypanthium broadly campanulate; fruit bright red, acid. Cultivated for its fruit, and sometimes for hedges, and widely naturalized. [Al Au Br Bu Cz Da Fe Ga Ge G r Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, K) Su.] (S.W. Asia.) Cultivars form the sour or Morello cherries used for preserving. Hybrids between 14 and 15 (P. x gondouinii (Poiteau & Turpin) Rehder) are cultivated in W. Europe as ‘D uke’ cherries.