![Italienische Süßkirschen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Italienische_S%C3%BC%C3%9Fkirschen.JPG)
A cherry is the
fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
of many plants of the genus ''
Prunus
''Prunus'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes (among many others) the fruits plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.
Native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of South America, and the p ...
'', and is a fleshy
drupe
In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kernel'') ...
(stone fruit).
Commercial cherries are obtained from
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
s of several species, such as the sweet ''
Prunus avium
''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, gean, or bird cherryWorld Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. is a species of cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, ...
'' and the sour ''
Prunus cerasus
''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' ( cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ...
''. The name 'cherry' also refers to the cherry tree and its wood, and is sometimes applied to
almond
The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...
s and visually similar flowering trees in the genus ''Prunus'', as in "
ornamental cherry" or "
cherry blossom
A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...
". Wild cherry may refer to any of the cherry species growing outside cultivation, although ''Prunus avium'' is often referred to specifically by the name "wild cherry" in the British Isles.
Botany
True cherries
''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus'' contains species that are typically called cherries. They are known as true cherries
and distinguished by having a single winter bud per
axil
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
, by having the
flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s in small
corymb
Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial re ...
s or
umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
s of several together (occasionally solitary, e.g.
''P. serrula''; some species with short
raceme
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
s, e.g. ''
P. maacki''), and by having smooth fruit with no obvious groove.
Examples of true cherries are:
* ''
Prunus apetala
''Prunus apetala'' is a species of flowering cherry in the genus ''Prunus'' in the family Rosaceae. It is called clove cherry ( ja, チョウジザクラ ) because of its clovebud-shaped calyx. It is native to Japan, centered on the main island, ...
'' (Siebold & Zucc.) Franch. & Sav. – clove cherry
* ''
Prunus avium
''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, gean, or bird cherryWorld Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. is a species of cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, ...
'' (L.) L. – sweet cherry, wild cherry, mazzard or gean
* ''
Prunus campanulata
''Prunus campanulata'' is a species of cherry native to Japan, Taiwan, southern and eastern China (Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hunan, Fujian, and Zhejiang), and Vietnam. It is a large shrub or small tree, growing tall. It is widely grown as an ...
'' Maxim. – Taiwan cherry, Formosan cherry or bell-flowered cherry
* ''
Prunus canescens
''Prunus canescens'', the gray-leaf cherry (and hoary cherry, although that name is also used for '' Prunus incana''), is a species of cherry native to China, found in Hubei and Sichuan
Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; ...
'' Bois. – grey-leaf cherry
* ''
Prunus cerasus
''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' ( cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ...
'' L. – sour cherry
* ''
Prunus emarginata
''Prunus emarginata'', the bitter cherry or Oregon cherry, is a species of ''Prunus'' native to western North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, and east as far as western Wyoming and New Mexico. It is often found in recentl ...
'' (Douglas ex Hook.) Walp. – Oregon cherry or bitter cherry
* ''
Prunus fruticosa
''Prunus fruticosa'', the European dwarf cherry, dwarf cherry, Mongolian cherry or steppe cherry is a deciduous, xerophytic, winter-hardy, cherry-bearing shrub. It is also called ground cherry and European ground cherry, but is not to be confus ...
'' Pall. – European dwarf cherry, dwarf cherry, Mongolian cherry or steppe cherry
* ''
Prunus incisa
''Prunus incisa'', the Fuji cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, which gets its scientific name from the deep incisions on the leaves. It is an endemic species in Japan and grows wild in Kantō, Chūbu and Kinki regio ...
'' Thunb. – Fuji cherry
* ''
Prunus jamasakura
''Prunus serrulata'' or Japanese cherry is a species of cherry tree that grows naturally in Japan, China, and Korea, and it also refers to a cultivar produced from ''Prunus speciosa'' (Oshima cherry), a cherry tree endemic in Japan.Toshio Katsu ...
'' Siebold ex Koidz. – Japanese mountain cherry or Japanese hill cherry
* ''
Prunus leveilleana
''Prunus leveilleana'' is a native of Korea and Japan. It generally has autumnal leaves of reddish-brown or crimson red colour. It has flowers of bright yellow-white colors.
Biochemistry
In this species various new flavonoid compounds have been ...
'' (Koidz.) Koehne – Korean mountain cherry
* ''
Prunus maackii
''Prunus maackii'', commonly called the Manchurian cherry or Amur chokecherry, is a species of cherry native to Korea and both banks of the Amur River, in Manchuria in northeastern China, and Amur Oblast and Primorye in southeastern Russia.Flora ...
'' Rupr. – Manchurian cherry or Amur chokecherry
* ''
Prunus mahaleb
''Prunus mahaleb'', the mahaleb cherry or St Lucie cherry, is a species of cherry tree. The tree is cultivated for a spice obtained from the seeds inside the cherry stones. The seeds have a fragrant smell and have a taste comparable to bitter almo ...
'' L. – Saint Lucie cherry, rock cherry, perfumed cherry or mahaleb cherry
* ''
Prunus maximowiczii
''Prunus maximowiczii'', known as Korean cherry, Korean mountain cherry, or Miyama cherry, is a small (about 7.5 m), fruiting cherry tree that can be found growing wild in northeastern Asia and Eurasia.
Taxonomy
The species was first described ...
'' Rupr. – Miyama cherry or Korean cherry
* ''
Prunus nipponica
''Prunus nipponica'', also called , is a shrub which originates from the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan. It grows to a height of about and can grow in sandy, loamy, and clay soils.
This species is one of the hardiest of cherry trees, wel ...
'' Matsum. – Takane cherry, peak cherry or Japanese alpine cherry
* ''
Prunus pensylvanica
''Prunus pensylvanica'', also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus ''Prunus''.
Description
''Prunus pensylvanica'' grows as a shrub or small tree, usually with a straigh ...
'' L.f. – pin cherry, fire cherry, or wild red cherry
* ''
Prunus pseudocerasus
''Prunus pseudocerasus'' or ''Prunus pseudo-cerasus'', the Chinese sour cherry or just Chinese cherry, is a species of cherry native to China and is used worldwide as an ornamental for its early spring cherry blossoms. The fruits of some cultiva ...
'' Lindl. – Chinese sour cherry or Chinese cherry
* ''
Prunus rufa
''Prunus rufa'', called Himalayan cherry, is a species of cherry native to Nepal and Burma. It is used as an ornamental elsewhere for its striking shiny brown bark. It has been found growing at above sea level in the Himalayas.
Description
''P ...
'' Wall ex Hook.f. – Himalayan cherry
* ''
Prunus rufoides'' C.K.Schneid. – tailed-leaf cherry
* ''
Prunus sargentii
''Prunus sargentii'', commonly known as Sargent's cherry or North Japanese hill cherry, is a species of cherry native to Japan, Korea, and Sakhalin (Russia).
The tree was named for Charles Sprague Sargent.
Description
''Prunus sargentii'' is ...
'' Rehder – northern Japanese hill cherry, northern Japanese mountain cherry or Sargent's cherry
* ''
Prunus serrula
''Prunus serrula'', called birch bark cherry, birchbark cherry, paperbark cherry, or Tibetan cherry, is a species of cherry native to China, and is used as an ornamental in many parts of the world for its striking coppery-red bark.
Description
...
'' Franch. – paperbark cherry, birch bark cherry or Tibetan cherry
* ''
Prunus serrulata
''Prunus serrulata'' or Japanese cherry is a species of cherry tree that grows naturally in Japan, China, and Korea, and it also refers to a cultivar produced from ''Prunus speciosa'' (Oshima cherry), a cherry tree endemic in Japan.Toshio Katsu ...
'' Lindl. – Japanese cherry, hill cherry, Oriental cherry or East Asian cherry
* ''
Prunus speciosa
''Prunus speciosa'', the Oshima cherry, Japanese オオシマザクラ (Oshima zakura), is native to Izu Ōshima island and the Izu Peninsula on Honshū near Tokyo, Japan.Bean, W. J. (1980). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'' 8th ed. ...
'' (Koidz.) Ingram – Oshima cherry
* ''
Prunus takesimensis
''Prunus takesimensis'' ( ko, 섬벚나무, lit=island cherry) is a species of cherry endemic to Ulleung Island, South Korea. A tree reaching 20m, it is used as an ornamental. Morphologically it most closely resembles ''Prunus sargentii'' but i ...
'' Nakai – Ulleungdo cherry
* ''
Prunus yedoensis
''Prunus'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes (among many others) the fruits plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.
Native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of South America, and the ...
'' Matsum. – Yoshino cherry or Tokyo cherry
Bush cherries
![Вишня войлочная 04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/%D0%92%D0%B8%D1%88%D0%BD%D1%8F_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_04.jpg)
Bush cherries are characterized by having three winter buds per axil.
They used to be included in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus'', but phylogenetic research indicates they should be a section of
''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus''.
Examples of bush cherries are:
* ''
Prunus cistena
''Prunus'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes (among many others) the fruits plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.
Native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of South America, and the p ...
'' Koehne – purple-leaf sand cherry
* ''
Prunus humilis
''Prunus humilis'' ( zh, 欧李) is a species of bush cherry native to northern China. It is cultivated for its edible fruit. Chloroplast DNA sequencing has shown that its closest relative is ''Prunus dictyoneura
''Prunus dictyoneura'' () ...
'' Bunge – Chinese plum-cherry or humble bush cherry
* ''
Prunus japonica
''Prunus japonica'' (also ''Cerasus japonica''), also called Japanese bush cherry, Oriental bush cherry, or Korean bush cherry is a shrub species in the genus ''Prunus'' that is widely cultivated for ornamental use. Its native range extends fro ...
'' Thunb. – Korean cherry
* ''
Prunus prostrata
''Prunus prostrata'' (mountain, rock, creeping, spreading or prostrate cherry) is a hardy alpine shrub found naturally above about 2000 m. up to as high as 4000 m. in Israel, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, Turkey, Albania, Greece, Sardini ...
'' Labill. – mountain cherry, rock cherry, spreading cherry or prostrate cherry
* ''
Prunus pumila
''Prunus pumila'', commonly called sand cherry, is a North American species of cherry in the rose family. It is widespread in eastern and central Canada from New Brunswick west to Saskatchewan and the northern United States from Maine to Montana, ...
'' L. – sand cherry
* ''
Prunus tomentosa
''Prunus tomentosa'' is a species of ''Prunus'' native to northern and western China (including Tibet), Korea, Mongolia, and possibly northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, though probably only cultivated there).Bean, W. J. (1980). ''Trees and Shrubs ...
'' Thunb. – Nanking cherry, Manchu cherry, downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, mountain cherry, Chinese dwarf cherry, Chinese bush cherry
Bird cherries, cherry laurels, and other racemose cherries
''Prunus'' subg. ''Padus'' contains most racemose species that are called cherries which used to be included in the genera ''Padus'' (bird cherries), ''Laurocerasus'' (cherry laurels), ''Pygeum'' (tropical species such as African cherry) and ''Maddenia''.
Examples of the racemose cherries are:
* ''
Prunus africana
''Prunus africana'', the African cherry, has a wide distribution in Africa, occurring in montane regions of central and southern Africa and on the islands of Bioko, São-Tomé, Grande Comore, and Madagascar. It can be found at above sea level. I ...
'' (Hook.f.) Kalkman – African cherry
* ''
Prunus caroliniana
''Prunus caroliniana'', known as the Carolina laurelcherry, Carolina cherry laurel, Carolina cherry, or Cherry laurel, is a small evergreen flowering tree native to the lowlands of Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida ...
'' Aiton – Carolina laurel cherry or laurel cherry
* ''
Prunus cornuta
''Prunus cornuta'', the Himalayan bird cherry, is a species of bird cherry native to the foothills of the Himalayas, including China and the countries of the Indian subcontinent. A medium-sized tree, it can reach 18m. It is used for a rootstock f ...
'' (Wall. ex Royle) Steud. – Himalayan bird cherry
* ''
Prunus grayana
''Prunus grayana'' ( syn. ''Padus grayana'' ( Maxim.) C.K.Schneid., ''Prunus padus'' var. ''japonica'' Miq.; Japanese bird cherry or Gray's bird cherry; Japanese ; Chinese ) is a species of bird cherry native to Japan and China, occurring ...
'' Maxim. – Japanese bird cherry or Gray's bird cherry
* ''
Prunus ilicifolia
''Prunus ilicifolia'' (Common names: hollyleaf cherry, evergreen cherry;Fire Effects Information Service, USDA Forest Service/ref> ''islay'' - Salinan Native American) is native to the chaparral areas of coastal California (from Mendocino County ...
'' (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) Walp. – hollyleaf cherry, evergreen cherry, holly-leaved cherry or islay
* ''
Prunus laurocerasus
''Prunus laurocerasus'', also known as cherry laurel, common laurel and sometimes English laurel in North America, is an evergreen species of cherry (''Prunus''), native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Eur ...
'' L. – cherry laurel
* ''
Prunus lyonii
''Prunus ilicifolia'' (Common names: hollyleaf cherry, evergreen cherry;Fire Effects Information Service, USDA Forest Service/ref> ''islay'' - Salinan Native American) is native to the chaparral areas of coastal California (from Mendocino County ...
'' (Eastw.) Sarg. – Catalina Island cherry
* ''
Prunus myrtifolia
''Prunus myrtifolia'', called the West Indies cherry or myrtle laurel cherry, is a New World species of shrubs in the family Rosaceae.
Description
''Prunus myrtifolia'' is a spineless, evergreen tree up to 12 metres (40 feet) tall, not forming ...
'' (L.) Urb. – West Indian cherry
* ''
Prunus napaulensis
''Prunus napaulensis'' is a species of bird cherry native to the eastern foothills of the Himalayas, including Nepal, Myanmar and China. A tree, it can reach 27m and prefers to grow between 1800 and 3000m above sea level. The fruit is edible, and ...
'' (Ser.) Steud. – Nepal bird cherry
* ''
'' Sw. – western cherry laurel
* ''
Prunus padus
''Prunus padus'', known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, is a flowering plant in the rose family. It is a species of cherry, a deciduous small tree or large shrub up to tall. It is the type species of the subgenus '' Padus' ...
'' L. – bird cherry or European bird cherry
* ''
Prunus pleuradenia
''Prunus pleuradenia'', the Antilles cherry, is a species of cherry laurel (''Laurocerasus'', sometimes included in ''Prunus subg. Padus, Padus'') native to the islands of the Caribbean, particularly the Lesser Antilles. It may also be native to V ...
'' Griseb. – Antilles cherry
* ''
Prunus serotina
''Prunus serotina'', commonly called black cherry,World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a deciduous tree or shrub of the g ...
'' Ehrh. – black cherry, wild cherry
* ''
Prunus ssiori
''Prunus ssiori'', the Hokkaido bird cherry or Japanese bird cherry, is a species of bird cherry native to northern Japan, Sakhalin Island, and the Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands or Kurile Islands (; rus, Кури́льские остро ...
'' F.Schmidt – Hokkaido bird cherry
* ''
Prunus virginiana
''Prunus virginiana'', commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for ''P. virginiana'' var. ''demissa''), is a species of bird cherry (''Prunus'' subgenus ''Padus'') nat ...
'' L. – chokecherry
Etymology and antiquity
![Sara_Ploos_van_Amstel_-_The_Cherry_Seller_-_watercolor_after_Jacob_Ochtervelt](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Sara_Ploos_van_Amstel_-_The_Cherry_Seller_-_watercolor_after_Jacob_Ochtervelt.jpg)
The English word cherry derives from
Old Northern French
Old Norman, also called Old Northern French or Old Norman French ( fro, Ancien Normant, nrf, Ancien Normaund), was one of many varieties of the ''langues d'oïl'' native to northern France. It was spoken throughout the region of what is now calle ...
or
Norman
Norman or Normans may refer to:
Ethnic and cultural identity
* The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries
** People or things connected with the Norm ...
''cherise'' from the Latin ''cerasum'', referring to an ancient Greek region, Kerasous (Κερασοῦς) near
Giresun
Giresun (), formerly Cerasus (Ancient Greek: Κερασοῦς, Greek: Κερασούντα), is the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey, about west of the city of Trabzon.
Etymology
Giresun wa ...
,
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
, from which cherries were first thought to be exported to Europe.
The indigenous range of the
sweet cherry
''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, gean, or bird cherryWorld Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. is a species of cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, ...
extends through most of Europe, western Asia, and parts of northern Africa, and the fruit has been consumed throughout its range since prehistoric times. A cultivated cherry is recorded as having been brought to Rome by
Lucius Licinius Lucullus from northeastern
Anatolia
Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...
, also known as the
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos may refer to:
* Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea)
* Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology
* Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...
region, in 72 BC.
Cherries were introduced into England at
Teynham
Teynham ( ) is a large village and civil parish in the borough of Swale in Kent, England. The parish lies between the towns of Sittingbourne and Faversham, immediately north of the A2 road, and includes the hamlet of Conyer on an inlet of the Sw ...
, near
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town in Kent, south-east England, from Canterbury and from London, beside the Roman Watling Street, an ancient British trackway used by the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons and next to the Swale, a strip of sea separa ...
in
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, by order of
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
, who had tasted them in
Flanders
Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...
.
Cherries arrived in North America early in the settlement of Brooklyn, New York (then called "New Netherland") when the region was under Dutch sovereignty. Trades people leased or purchased land to plant orchards and produce gardens, "Certificate of
Cornelis van Tienhoven
Cornelis van Tienhoven (ca. 1601 Utrecht- November 1656 ?, Manhattan ?) was secretary of the New Netherlands from 1638 to 1656 and as such one of the most influential people in New Amsterdam.
Van Tienhoven was born the son of Luyt (Lucas) Cornel ...
that he had found 12 apple, 40 peach, 73 cherry trees, 26 sage plants.., behind the house sold by
Anthony Janszoon van Salee
Anthony Janszoon van Salee (1607–1676) was an original settler of and prominent landholder, merchant, and creditor in New Netherland. Van Salee is believed to be the son of Jan Janszoon (Jan Jansen), a Dutch pirate who after 1619 served a Mooris ...
to Barent Dirksen... ANNO 18th of June 1639."
Cultivation
![Salvatore Postiglione Kirschenzeit](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Salvatore_Postiglione_Kirschenzeit.jpg)
The cultivated forms are of the species
sweet cherry
''Prunus avium'', commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, gean, or bird cherryWorld Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, Second Edition'. CRC Press; 19 April 2016. . p. 833–. is a species of cherry, a flowering plant in the rose family, ...
(''P. avium'') to which most cherry
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
s belong, and the
sour cherry
''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' ( cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ...
(''P. cerasus''), which is used mainly for cooking. Both species originate in Europe and western Asia; they usually do not
cross-pollinate
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an Stamen, anther of a plant to the stigma (botany), stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by Anemophily, wind. Pollinating agents can ...
. Some other species, although having edible fruit, are not grown extensively for consumption, except in northern regions where the two main species will not grow. Irrigation, spraying, labor, and their propensity to damage from rain and hail make cherries relatively expensive. Nonetheless, demand is high for the fruit. In commercial production, sour cherries, as well as sweet cherries sometimes, are harvested by using a mechanized "shaker". Hand picking is also widely used for sweet as well as sour cherries to harvest the fruit to avoid damage to both fruit and trees.
Common rootstocks include Mazzard, Mahaleb, Colt, and Gisela Series, a dwarfing rootstock that produces trees significantly smaller than others, only 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) tall.
Sour cherries require no
pollenizer
{{Unreferenced, date=May 2009
A pollenizer (or polleniser), sometimes pollinizer (or polliniser, see spelling differences) is a plant that provides pollen.
The word '' pollinator'' is often used when ''pollenizer'' is more precise. A pollinator ...
, while few sweet varieties are self-fertile.
A cherry tree will take three to four years once it is planted in the orchard to produce its first crop of fruit, and seven years to attain full maturity.
Growing season
Like most temperate-latitude trees, cherry trees require a certain number of chilling hours each year to break dormancy and bloom and produce fruit. The number of chilling hours required depends on the variety. Because of this cold-weather requirement, no members of the genus ''Prunus'' can grow in tropical climates. (See "production" section for more information on
chilling requirement
The chilling requirement of a fruit is the minimum period of cold weather after which a fruit-bearing tree will blossom. It is often expressed in chill hours, which can be calculated in different ways, all of which essentially involve adding up ...
s)
Cherries have a short growing season and can grow in most
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
latitudes.
[ Cherries blossom in April (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the peak season for the cherry harvest is in the summer. In ]southern Europe
Southern Europe is the southern regions of Europe, region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countrie ...
in June, in North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
in June, in England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
in mid-July, and in southern British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
(Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
) in June to mid-August. In many parts of North America, they are among the first tree fruits to flower and ripen in mid-Spring.
In the Southern Hemisphere, cherries are usually at their peak in late December and are widely associated with Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
. 'Burlat' is an early variety which ripens during the beginning of December, 'Lapins' ripens near the end of December, and 'Sweetheart' finish slightly later.
Pests and diseases
Generally, the cherry can be a difficult fruit tree to grow and keep alive. In Europe, the first visible pest in the growing season soon after blossom (in April in western Europe) usually is the black cherry aphid ("cherry blackfly", ''Myzus cerasi''), which causes leaves at the tips of branches to curl, with the blackfly colonies exuding a sticky secretion which promotes fungal growth on the leaves and fruit. At the fruiting stage in June/July (Europe), the cherry fruit fly
''Rhagoletis cerasi'' (the cherry fruit fly or European cherry fruit fly) is a species of fruit fly in the family Tephritidae.
Distribution
This species is widespread in most of Europe, except British Islands, in western Siberia to Caucasus, in ...
(''Rhagoletis cingulata'' and ''Rhagoletis cerasi'') lays its eggs in the immature fruit, whereafter its larvae feed on the cherry flesh and exit through a small hole (about 1 mm diameter), which in turn is the entry point for fungal infection of the cherry fruit after rainfall. In addition, cherry trees are susceptible to bacterial canker
A plant canker is a small area of dead tissue, which grows slowly, often over years. Some cankers are of only minor consequence, but others are ultimately lethal and therefore can have major economic implications for agriculture and horticultur ...
, cytospora
''Cytospora'' is a genus of ascomycete fungi. The genus was first described in 1818 by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.Ehrenberg, C.G. (1818''Sylvae mycologicae Berolinenses'' 40 as ''Cytispora'' ''Cytospora'' species are known as plant pathogens. ...
canker, brown rot of the fruit, root rot
Root rot is a condition in which anoxic conditions in the soil or potting media around the roots of a plant cause them to rot. This occurs due to excessive standing water around the roots. It is found in both indoor and outdoor plants, although ...
from overly wet soil, crown rot, and several viruses.
Cultivars
The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
:
See cherry blossom
A cherry blossom, also known as Japanese cherry or sakura, is a flower of many trees of genus ''Prunus'' or ''Prunus'' subg. ''Cerasus''. They are common species in East Asia, including China, Korea and especially in Japan. They generally ...
and ''Prunus
''Prunus'' is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes (among many others) the fruits plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and almonds.
Native to the North American temperate regions, the neotropics of South America, and the p ...
'' for ornamental trees.
Production
In 2020, world production of sweet cherries was 2.61 million tonne
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the short ton ( United State ...
s, with Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
producing 28% of this total. Other major producers of sweet cherries were the United States and Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
. World production of sour cherries in 2020 was 1.48 million tonnes, led by Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
, Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
, Ukraine and Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
.
Middle East
Major commercial cherry orchards in West Asia are in Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
, and Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
.
Europe
Major commercial cherry orchards in Europe are in Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
, Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and other Mediterranean regions, and to a smaller extent in the Baltic States
The Baltic states, et, Balti riigid or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term, which currently is used to group three countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All three countries are members of NATO, the European Union, the Eurozone, ...
and southern Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
.
In France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
since the 1920s, the first cherries of the season come in April/May from the region of Céret
Céret (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. It is the capital of the historic Catalan comarca of Vallespir.
Geography
The town lies in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains, in southern France. ...
(Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales (; ca, Pirineus Orientals ; oc, Pirenèus Orientals ; ), also known as Northern Catalonia, is a department of the region of Occitania, Southern France, adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. ...
), where the local producers send, as a tradition since 1932, the first crate of cherries to the president of the Republic.
North America
In the United States, most sweet cherries are grown in Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
, California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, and Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. Important sweet cherry cultivars include Bing
Bing most often refers to:
* Bing Crosby (1903–1977), American singer
* Microsoft Bing, a web search engine
Bing may also refer to:
Food and drink
* Bing (bread), a Chinese flatbread
* Bing (soft drink), a UK brand
* Bing cherry, a varie ...
, Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...
, Rainier, Brooks, Tulare, King, and Sweetheart. Both Oregon and Michigan provide light-colored 'Royal Ann' ('Napoleon'; alternately 'Queen Anne') cherries for the maraschino cherry
A maraschino cherry ( ) is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann cherry, Royal Ann, Rainier cherry, Rainier, or Gold varieties. In their modern form, the cherries are first pre ...
process. Most sour (also called tart) cherries are grown in Michigan, followed by Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
, New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, and Washington. Sour cherries include 'Nanking' and 'Evans'. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was ...
is called the "Cherry Capital of the World", hosting a National Cherry Festival
The National Cherry Festival is a food festival in Traverse City, Michigan. It began in 1925 as the Blessing of the Blossoms Festival, which was held in early May to attract tourists to Northern Michigan to view the blooming cherry blossoms. In 1 ...
and making the world's largest cherry pie
Cherry pie is a pie baked with a cherry filling. Traditionally, cherry pie is made with sour cherries rather than sweet cherries. Morello cherries are one of the most common kinds of cherry used, but other varieties such as the black cherry may ...
. The specific region of northern Michigan known for tart cherry production is referred to as the "Traverse Bay" region.
Most cherry varieties have a chilling requirement of 800 or more hours, meaning that in order to break dormancy, blossom, and set fruit, the winter season needs to have at least 800 hours where the temperature is below . “Low chill” varieties requiring 300 hours or less are Minnie Royal and Royal Lee, requiring cross-pollinization, whereas the cultivar, Royal Crimson, is self-fertile. These varieties extend the range of cultivation of cherries to the mild winter areas of southern US. This is a boon to California producers of sweet cherries, as California is the second largest producer of sweet cherries in the US.
Native and non-native sweet cherries grow well in Canada's provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
of Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
and British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
where an annual cherry festival has been celebrated for seven consecutive decades in the Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is part ...
town of Osoyoos
Osoyoos (, ) is the southernmost town in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia between Penticton and Omak. The town is north of the United States border with Washington state and is adjacent to the Osoyoos Indian reserve. The origin of the na ...
. In addition to the Okanagan, other British Columbia cherry growing regions are the Similkameen Valley Similkameen may refer to:
* Similkameen Country or Similkameen District, or "the Similkameen", a historical georegion in British Columbia, Canada
* Similkameen River, a river that runs through southern British Columbia, discharging into the Okanog ...
and Kootenay Valley
Kootenay, Kootenai, and Kutenai may refer to:
Ethnic groups
*The Kutenai, also known as the Ktunaxa, Kootenai, or Kootenay, an indigenous people of the United States and Canada
**Kutenai language, the traditional language of the Kutenai
**Ktunaxa ...
, all three regions together producing 5.5 million kg annually or 60% of total Canadian output. Sweet cherry varieties in British Columbia include 'Rainier', 'Van', 'Chelan', 'Lapins', 'Sweetheart', 'Skeena', 'Staccato', 'Christalina' and 'Bing'.
Australia
In Australia, cherries are grown in all the states except for the Northern Territory. The major producing regions are located in the temperate areas within New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Western Australia has limited production in the elevated parts in the southwest of the state. Key production areas include Young
Young may refer to:
* Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents
* Youth, the time of life when one is young, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood
Music
* The Young, an American roc ...
, Orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
and Bathurst in New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Wandin
Wandin East is a town in Victoria, Australia, 45 km east from Melbourne's central business district, located within the Shire of Yarra Ranges local government area. Wandin East recorded a population of 408 at the .
Wandin Yallock Creek ...
, the Goulburn and Murray valley areas in Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, the Adelaide Hills region in South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
, and the Huon and Derwent Valleys in Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
.
Key commercial varieties in order of seasonality include 'Empress', 'Merchant', 'Supreme', 'Ron's seedling', 'Chelan', 'Ulster', 'Van', 'Bing', 'Stella', 'Nordwunder', 'Lapins', 'Simone', 'Regina', 'Kordia' and 'Sweetheart'. New varieties are being introduced, including the late season 'Staccato' and early season 'Sequoia'. The Australian Cherry Breeding program is developing a series of new varieties which are under testing evaluation.
The New South Wales town of Young
Young may refer to:
* Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents
* Youth, the time of life when one is young, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood
Music
* The Young, an American roc ...
is called the "Cherry Capital of Australia" and hosts the National Cherry Festival.
Nutritional value
Raw sweet cherries are 82% water, 16% carbohydrates
In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or may ...
, 1% protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, respo ...
, and negligible in fat
In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.
The term often refers spec ...
(table). As raw fruit, sweet cherries provide little nutrient content per 100 g serving, as only dietary fiber
Dietary fiber (in British English fibre) or roughage is the portion of plant-derived food that cannot be completely broken down by human digestive enzymes. Dietary fibers are diverse in chemical composition, and can be grouped generally by the ...
and vitamin C
Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) an ...
are present in moderate content, while other vitamin
A vitamin is an organic molecule (or a set of molecules closely related chemically, i.e. vitamers) that is an Nutrient#Essential nutrients, essential micronutrient that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its ...
s and dietary minerals
In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life. However, the four major structural elements in the human body by weight (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, ...
each supply less than 10% of the Daily Value
The Reference Daily Intake (RDI) used in nutrition labeling on food and dietary supplement products in the U.S. and Canada is the daily intake level of a nutrient that is considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements of 97–98% of health ...
(DV) per serving, respectively (table).
Compared to sweet cherries, raw sour cherries
''Prunus cerasus'' (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of ''Prunus'' in the subgenus '' Cerasus'' ( cherries), native to much of Europe and southwest Asia. It is closely related to the sweet cherry (''Prunus avium''), but ...
contain 50% more vitamin C per 100 g (12% DV) and about 20 times more vitamin A (8% DV), beta-Carotene in particular (table).
Health risks
The cherry kernels, accessible by chewing or breaking the hard-shelled cherry pits, contain amygdalin
Amygdalin (from Ancient Greek: ' "almond") is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in many plants, most notably in the seeds (kernels) of apricots, bitter almonds, apples, peaches, cherries, and plums.
Amygdalin is classified as a cy ...
, a chemical that releases the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide, sometimes called prussic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structure . It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is produced on an ...
when ingested. The amount of amygdalin in each cherry varies widely, and symptoms would show only after eating several crushed pits (3-4 of the Morello variety or 7-9 of the red or black varieties). Swallowing the pits whole normally causes no complications.
An experiment conducted on the amount of cyanide found in cherries showed that a normal cherry pit contains 0.004 mg of cyanide
Cyanide is a naturally occurring, rapidly acting, toxic chemical that can exist in many different forms.
In chemistry, a cyanide () is a chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of ...
, which is not a fatal dose for humans, but is best avoided, as different varieties of cherries may contain higher amounts of cyanide.
Other uses
Cherry wood is valued for its rich color and straight grain in manufacturing fine furniture, particularly desks, tables and chairs.
See also
* Cherry ice cream
Cherry ice cream is a common ice cream flavor, prepared using typical ice cream ingredients and cherries. Various types of cherries and cherry cultivars are used. In the United States, where the flavor is especially popular, it has been mass-pro ...
* Cherry juice
Cherry juice is a fruit juice consisting of the juice of cherries. It is consumed as a beverage and used as an ingredient in various foods, processed foods and beverages. It is also marketed as a health supplement. It is produced by hot- or cold ...
* Cherry pit oil Cherry pit oil, also referred to as cherry kernel oil, is a seed oil that is derived from the pits of cherries. It is used for culinary purposes as a flavorant, as a fragrance and as an ingredient in cosmetics, such as lipstick.
Properties
The o ...
* Cherry pitter
A cherry pitter is a device for removing the Pyrena, pit from a cherry, leaving the cherry relatively intact. Many styles of cherry pitters exist, including small tools held in the hand, domestic crank-operated machines with a hopper, and industr ...
* Dried cherry
Dried cherries are a type of dried fruit. They consist of cherries which have been subjected to a drying process.
Production
One method for industrial production of dried cherries involves first dipping them in a boiling 0.5–2% solution of so ...
* List of Award of Garden Merit flowering cherries
The following tree species and cultivars in the genus ''Prunus'' (family Rosaceae) currently (2016)
hold the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. All are described as flowering or ornamental cherries, though they have mixed parent ...
* List of cherry dishes
This is a list of notable cherry dishes and foods that are prepared using cherries as a primary ingredient.
Cherry dishes and foods
* Black Forest gateau – a chocolate sponge cake with a rich cherry filling based on the German dessert '' ...
* Mahleb
Mahleb or Mahlepi is an aromatic spice made from the seeds of a species of cherry, ''Prunus mahaleb'' (the Mahaleb or St Lucie cherry). The cherry stones are cracked to extract the seed kernel, which is about 5 mm diameter, soft and chewy o ...
, a spice made out of cherry seeds (found within cherry pits)
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Prunus
Fruit trees
Drupes