Prunus serotina
Prunus serotina, or black cherry, is a deciduous North American tree in the rose family. Its small dark fruits feed wildlife and are used in foods.
Rosaceae: The rose family is a large family of flowering plants that includes cherries, roses, apples, and many other trees and herbs. Black cherry belongs to this diverse family of flowering plants.
Black cherry wood: Black cherry wood is the fine-grained, reddish-brown timber harvested from Prunus serotina. Its color, workability, and finish make it a prized furniture and cabinet wood.
Pollination: Pollination is the transfer of pollen to a flower’s receptive surface, enabling fertilization and seed formation. Insects visiting black cherry flowers transfer pollen between them.
Prunus virginiana: Prunus virginiana, or chokecherry, is a North American shrub or small tree bearing clusters of astringent fruit. Chokecherry is a native relative often confused with black cherry.
Prunus: Prunus is a genus of flowering plants that includes cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, and almonds. Black cherry is one species within this genus of fruit-bearing trees.
Fruit preserves: Fruit preserves are foods made by cooking fruit with sugar to extend its shelf life. Black cherry fruit is used in jams, jellies, and other preserves.
Seed dispersal: Seed dispersal is the movement of seeds away from their parent plant. Animals carry or excrete black cherry seeds after eating its fruit.
Prunus pensylvanica: Prunus pensylvanica, or pin cherry, is a North American cherry tree with small red fruit and smooth bark. Pin cherry is another native species with similar fruit but different bark and growth habits.
Eastern North America: Eastern North America is the region extending from the Atlantic coast across the eastern United States and Canada. This region contains much of black cherry’s native range.
Wildlife food: Wildlife food consists of plants and other resources eaten by wild animals. Birds and mammals consume black cherry fruit and disperse its seeds.