Prunus rufoides

Prunus rufoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Cerasus
Species:
P. rufoides
Binomial name
Prunus rufoides
Synonyms
  • Cerasus dielsiana (C.K.Schneid.) T.T.Yü & C.L.Li
  • Cerasus dielsiana var. abbreviata (Cardot) T.T.Yü & C.L.Li
  • Prunus carcharias Koehne
  • Prunus dielsiana (C.K.Schneid.) Koehne
  • Prunus dielsiana var. abbreviata Cardot
  • Prunus dielsiana var. conferta Koehne
  • Prunus dielsiana var. laxa Koehne
  • Prunus szechuanica var. dielsiana C.K.Schneid.

Prunus rufoides (syn. Prunus dielsiana), called Diel's cherry, the tawny bark cherry, and in Chinese: 尾叶樱桃, the tailed-leaf cherry, is a species of cherry native to China.

Description

It is shrub or tree growing to 6 metres (20 feet) tall. Its bark is brownish‑gray. The petioles are 0.8 to 1.7 millimetres (1⁄32 to 1⁄16 inch) long. The leaves are elliptic to elliptic-obovate, from 6 to 14 centimetres (2+1⁄4 to 5+1⁄2 in) long and 2.5 to 4.5 cm (1 to 1+3⁄4 in) wide. The leaves are a darker green on the top surface, with the underside pilose, even villous on the veins.

The species is hermaphrodite. Typically the umbellate or subumbellate inflorescences have 2 to 6 flowers with white or pink petals. Each flower has 32–36 stamens. The fruit is a red drupe,[additional citation(s) needed] measuring about 8 mm (5⁄16 in) in diameter.

Distribution and habitat

Diel's cherry is found in Anhui, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Sichuan provinces in China.

It generally grows at 500–1,400 m (1,600–4,600 ft) above sea level, but can reach 1,800 m (5,900 ft).[citation needed] It prefers moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate a moderate pH range and little to no shade.

Ecology

The fruits are eaten by masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) and the fruits, leaves and buds are eaten by gray snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus brelichi).

Toxicity

Members of the genus typically contain hydrogen cyanide in the leaves and seeds, which can be fatal if consumed in quantity.

Uses

The cherry is edible raw or cooked. The seed can also be eaten if not too bitter due to the presence of hydrogen cyanide.

References

  1. ↑ Fedde FK (1905). "Repertorium specierum novarum regni vegetabilis". Selbstverlag des Herausgebers. 1 (5/6): 68.
  2. 1 2 Wu B, Potter D, Cui D (2019-12-07). "The identity of Prunusdielsiana (Rosaceae)". PhytoKeys (126): 71–77. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.126.35305. PMC 6642135. PMID 31346310.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Prunus dielsiana PFAF Plant Database". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 2026-08-23.
  4. ↑ "Type of Prunus dielsiana var. conferta Koehne [family ROSACEAE". Global Plants.
  5. ↑ Zhou Y, Zhang J, Slade E, Zhang L, Palomares F, Chen J, Wang X, Zhang S (18 April 2008). "Dietary Shifts in Relation to Fruit Availability among Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) in Central China". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (2): 435–447. doi:10.1644/07-MAMM-A-048R1.1. PMC 7542873. PMID 34191878.
  6. ↑ Guo Y, Zhou J, Xie J, Garber PA, Bruford M, Ren B, Li D, Zhou J (October 2018). "Altitudinal ranging of the Guizhou golden monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi): Patterns of habitat selection and habitat use". Global Ecology and Conservation. 16 (2) e00473. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00473.