Prunus padus
L.
Bird Cherry, European Bird Cherry
(c) Sciadopitys, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) a_rover, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by a_rover
(c) MurielBendel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds, Leaves, Flowers, Bark - tea
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, though it is usually bitter and is most commonly used for jam and preserves. It is roughly pea-sized with a single large seed. The flowers can be chewed. Young leaves can be cooked and eaten as a boiled vegetable, as is done in Korea. The seed is edible raw or cooked but should not be eaten if it is too bitter. A tea can be made from the bark.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It is native to N. Asia and Europe. It grows in open places by streams and woods. It grows easily in limestone areas. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Arboretum Tasmania. In Inner Mongolia.
Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, North Africa, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Yugoslavia,
How to Identify
A deciduous tree. It grows 6-15 m high. It is a broad spreading shape. The bark is dark grey and smooth. The bark has scattered pores and peels off. The leaves are oval and 10 cm long by 6 cm across. They taper to a point. The leaves are leathery with fine, regular teeth around the edge. The leaves are dark matt green and usually turn red or yellow in autumn. The flowers are white and almond scented. They hang in long spikes. The flowers are 1 cm across and the spikes 15 cm long. The fruit are black cherries. They are 8 mm long. The fruit contains a hard oval stone.
How to Grow
Succeeds in any soil, preferring a well-drained moisture-retentive loamy soil. Prefers some lime in the soil but is likely to become chlorotic if too much lime is present. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Very hardy but it does not like exposure to strong winds. A very hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to about -30°c. A very ornamental species, there are some named varieties. The sub-species P. padus borealis is found in Scandinavia and the mountains of C. Europe. It is a shrub growing only to about 3 metres high. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged. Trees usually produce lots of suckers and will soon regenerate by this method if the main trunk is cut down. This tree is a host for cereal virus vector. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Trees only cast a light shade and do not themselves thrive in heavy shade. The fruits are relished by birds and the flowers and leaves attract many insects. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water.
Propagation: Seed requires 2–3 months of cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible. Protect seed from mice. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking 18 months. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a greenhouse or cold frame, then plant out in late spring or early summer the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel can be taken in July/August in a frame. Softwood cuttings from vigorous plants can be taken in spring to early summer in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood can be taken in October/November in a frame. Suckers can be removed in late winter. Layering can be done in spring.
Medicinal Uses
The bark is mildly anodyne, diuretic, febrifuge, and sedative. An infusion of the bark is used to treat colds and feverish conditions. Bark is harvested when the tree is in flower and can be dried for later use. Like all members of the genus, this species contains amygdalin and prunasin, which break down in water to produce hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid). In small amounts this highly poisonous compound can stimulate respiration, improve digestion, and produce a sense of well-being.
Other Uses
A green dye can be obtained from the leaves, and a dark grey to green dye from the fruit. The wood is hard, heavy, durable, and easy to work, finishing to a good polish — it is highly valued by cabinet makers.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Prunus padus, known as bird cherry, hackberry (unrelated to the genus Celtis), 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 16 metres (52 ft) tall. It is the type species of the subgenus Padus, which have flowers in racemes. It is native to northern Europe and northern and northeast Asia and is grown as an ornamental in North America.
Notes
There are about 200 Prunus species.
Names & Synonyms
Cheremukha, Chou li zi, čremsa, Hagberry, Hegg, Kus kirazi, Mayday tree, Moil, Shotkhvi, Szelence, Toomingas, Tuomi, Tuomimarju, Zelnica
References (46)
- Aipeisova S.A., et al, 2019, Wild useful herbs of Aktobe Region (Western Kazakhstan). Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 9(3), 329-331 (As Padus avium)
- Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 842
- Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 839
- Bowser, M., 2017, Handout on Edible Plants of the Kenai Peninsula. USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge p 17
- Bussman, R. W., et al, 2016, A comparative ethnobotany of Khevsureti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tusheti, Svaneti, and Racha-Lechkhumi, Republic of Georgia (Sakartvelo), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.
- Bussman, R. W., et al, 2021, Unity in diversity—food plants and fungi of Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2021) 17:72 p 14
- Cerne, M., 1992, Wild Plants from Slovenia used as Vegetables. Acta Horticulturae 318
- Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 267
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1095
- Denes, A., et al, 2012, Wild plants used for food by Hungarian ethnic groups living in the Carpathian Basin. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 81 (4): 381-396 (As Padus avium)
- Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement (As Padus avium)
- Esperanca, M. J., 1988. Surviving in the wild. A glance at the wild plants and their uses. Vol. 1. p 104
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 203
- Girard, N. J., 2020, Sustainable Foraging of Wild Edible Plants in Norway. A Biocultural Approach. M. Sc. thesis Norwegian University. p 134
- Haj, F., et al, 2012, Species Diversity and Ethno Botanical Classes of the Flora of Allai Valley District Battagram Pakistan. International Journal of Plant Research 2012, 2(4): 111-123
- Harris, E & J., 1983, Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain. Reader's Digest. p 101
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 525
- Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 241
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of wild edible plants in Mongolian cuisine (As Padus asiatica)
- http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
- Irving, M., 2009, The Forager Handbook, A Guide to the Edible Plants of Britain. Ebury Press p 273
- Johansson, A., Laakso, P. and Kallio, H., 1997, Characterization of seed oils of wild, edible Finnish berries. Food Chemistry 204:300-307
- Kalle, R. & Soukand, R., 2012, Historical ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants of Estonia (1770s-1960s) Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 81(4):271-281
- Khasbagan, Hu-Yin Huai, and Sheng-Ji pei, 2000, Wild Plants in the Diet of Athorchin Mongol Herdsmen in Inner Mongolia. Economic Botany 54(4): 528-536
- Khasbagan, Yeruhan and Zhao Hui, 2011, Study on Traditional Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used by the Mongolians in Xilingol Typical Steppe Area. Plant Diversity and Resources. 33(2): 239-246
- Kolosova, V., et al, 2020, Foraging in Boreal Forest: Wild Food Plants of the Republic of Karelia, NW Russia. Foods 2020, 9, 1015; p 20
- Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 67
- Łukasz Łuczaj and Wojciech M Szymański, 2007, Wild vascular plants gathered for consumption in the Polish countryside: a review. J Ethnobiol Ethnomedicine. 3: 17
- Mabey, R., 1973, Food for Free. A Guide to the edible wild plants of Britain, Collins. p 171
- Pieroni, A. & Soukand, R., 2018, Forest as Stronghold of Local Ecological Practice: Currently Used Wild Food Plants in Polesia, Northern Ukraine. Economic Botany, XX(X) pp. 1-21
- Plants for a Future, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 49
- Sachula, et al, 2020, Wild edible plants collected and consumed by the locals in Daqinggou, Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2020) 16:60 (As Padus avium)
- Shikov, A. N. et al, 2017, Traditional and Current Food Use of Wild Plants Listed in the Russian Pharmacopoeia. Frontiers in Pharmacology. Vol. 8 Article 841
- Soukand, R. & Kalle, R., 2016, Perceiving the Biodiversity of Food at Chest-height: use of the Fleshy Fruits of Wild Trees and Shrubs in Saaremaa, Estonia. Hum Ecol 44:265–272
- Soukand, R., et al, 2017, Multi-functionality of the few: current and past uses of wild plants for food and healing in Liubań region, Belarus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2017) 13:10
- Sp. pl. 1:473. 1753
- Stryamets, N., et al, 2015, From economic survival to recreation: contemporary uses of wild food and medicine in rural Sweden, Ukraine and NW Russia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 11:53
- Svanberg, I., 2012, The use of wild plants as food in pre-industrial Sweden. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 81(4): 317-327
- Tanaka,
- Uphof,
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
- Vanhanen, S. & Pesonen, P., 2015, Wild plant gathering in Stone Age Finland. Quaternary International xxx (2015) 1-13
- Vari, A., et al, 2020, Berries, greens, and medicinal herbs—mapping and assessing wild plants as an ecosystem service in Transylvania (Romania). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2020) 16:13 (As Padus avium)
- Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 563
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
More from Rosaceae
