(Cerasus fruticosa Pall.)
Habitus
- i tis a small shrub often prostrate, 30 - 150 cm high
- bark is light brown
- lenticels are small, transversely arranged, linear, yellowish
Leaves (assimilation organs)
- the leaves are simple, they are of two shapes:
- on long shoots (macroblasts) they are oblong-ovate to lanceolate, pointed, broadly wedge-shaped at the base, 3 - 3.5 x 1.5 - 2.5 cm in size
- on shortened shoots (brachyblasts) they are smaller, broadly elliptical, blunt or rounded at the apex
- both types of leaves are relatively firm, serrated along the margin
- the leaves are dark green shiny on the upper side, lighter on the lower side
- the petiole is 5 - 10 mm long
Flowers
- flowers are bisexual, five-petaled, white
- they bloom in April to May
- they grow in groups of 2-5 on shortened branches (brachyblasts)
Fruits – seeds
- the fruit is a globose drupe about 10 mm in size, dark red when ripe, shiny, sour
- the stone is light, smooth
- it ripens in July
Extension
- originally in Southern Europe and Western Siberia in forest-steppes and on the edge of forests
- in Slovakia in the warmest areas, mainly on limestones (e.g. Devínska Kobyla) in the north to Choč
Ecology
- it is a light-loving, drought-resistant woody plant, spreads mainly by root suckers
- it grows mainly on warm, dry, calcareous, shallow and stony soils
- protection – it is a vulnerable species (VU)
Significance
- it is ornamental with flowers and shiny leaves
- its mourning form is used in gardening
