Black Cherry

Description:

The black cherry is a species in the subgenus Padus and is a deciduous tree (except on the extreme southern part of its range at lower elevations where it sometimes is semi-evergeen), growing to 15–30 metres (49–98 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of up to 70–120 centimetres (28–47 in), occasionally more, with flowers in racemes. The leaves are simple, 6–14 centimetres (2.4–5.5 in) long, with a serrated margin. The flowers are small (10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) diameter), with five white petals and about 20 stamens, and are fragrant; there are around 40 flowers on each raceme. The species epithet, serotina, means "late," and refers to the tree flowering later in the season than many other cherry species. The fruit is a drupe, 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter, green to red at first, ripening to black; it is usually astringent and bitter when eaten fresh, but also somewhat sweet. The fruit is readily eaten by birds.

Habitat:

Black cherries in the Northeastern US may exceed 70 feet in height, but in the Southwest and montane areas are typically much shorter.