Wild Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲▼ seedlings

▲▼ young plants

 

▲ mature tree, in flower

▲ stem with leaves

▲ flowers

▲ immature fruit

Location on or near Missouri State University Campus:  in lawn area south of Lot 22, south of Grand Avenue

Wild Black Cherry: 

·         Native, fast-growing, large-growing tree with alternate, shiny, lanceolate leaves with tiny teeth on the margins

·         Has racemes of white flowers in spring, followed by ¼” diameter dark-purple fruit that are favored by many birds

·         Commonly found sprouting and growing in pastures, fencerows, fallow fields

·         Is a problem as a woody species in pastures, and especially because dried foliage is toxic to livestock (contains cyanide)

·         Similar species, Chokecherry (pp. 512-513, Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 360-361, Weeds of the Northeast)

o   Has more oval leaves, and is a small to medium sized tree

o   Can spread by seed and root sprouts

o   Fruit is red to black at maturity, but very astringent

o   Also releases cyanide from dried leaves