BIRD CHERRY

Prunus padus

Rose [Rosaceae]

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

A shrub or small tree, about half the potential height of Wild Cherry.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Har dense but somewhat floppy panicles of white flowers that droop downwards starting from an angle of ±45° from the horizontal.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

The panicles look a little like large bottle brushes.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Consisting of many five-petalled flowers arranged around a flowering stem.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Flowers white with five oval petals.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Over a dozen stamens with cream-coloured pollen, and a deep yellow-bottomed central cylindrical well.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Petals a little untidy and crinkly.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Leaves mid-green, oval a small convex point. Prominent veins. Underneath is a line of hairs along the rib (not seen here). Leaf stems purplish.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Leaves have many fine teeth pointing forwards, almost like angled cuts in the leafs edge.

23rd April 2011, Southport, Lancs.

Photo: © RWD

Bark purplish.

Not to be confused with : Bird's-foot nor with Bird-in-the-Bush [plant with similar names]

Some similarities to : Cherry Laurel (but that has upright flower panicles) and to Portugal Laurel (but that has thinner and longer flower panicles that are always sloping downwards and which do not droop half-way along, but rather seem to make an effort to turn slightly upwards near the tip instead).

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

Has poisonous black berries that are rather sharp to the taste.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE

Distribution
family8Rose family8Rosaceae

BSBI maps

Prunus
(Cherries)