Prunus virginiana

The Virginia Bird Cherry (Prunus virginiana) is a species of the genus Prunus and is similar to the European cherry and cherry laurel. It is a squat, dwarfing prone to shrub or small tree with glossy foliage. Unlike many Eurasian species, the hydrocyanic acid content, except in the kernels, so small that the fruits are fit for human consumption. It was as a vitamin supplier for the indigenous population is particularly important. At Lakota, she was called canpá sapa, which means "Black Cherry" can be translated (sapa = black; canpá = Cherry, Cherry, "Sauer-tree", can = tree, flower + pa = sour, bitter).

The Virginia bird cherry is a small, densely branched bush or tree (in the plains rarely higher than a standing person). It often forms thickets, and thereby contributes to soil stabilization in sandy areas. The bark is reddish brown and smooth, with small bright warts (lenticels). The alternate leaves are elliptic to obovate and pointed with finely serrated edges. They are strong in the medium to dark green, glabrous and glossy with a thick layer of wax, but not as leathery as in the laurel cherry. The leaf length is about 9 inches.

The creamy white, inconspicuous, sweetly fragrant flowers grow in hanging grapes, which make up about kichererbsengroße, round, dark red at first, then develop shiny black fruits. These are stone fruit with a stone core and a relatively small amount of pulp per fruit. Not yet fully ripe, red fruits are slightly astringent. The fruits are eaten by humans and animals, especially bears and birds, they like to eat. The flowering is dependent on site conditions April to June, driven from the leaves before flowering.


Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginische_Traubenkirsche
See Also: sending flowers, online florist