bird cherry
Prunus padus
The strong, medicinal odor of its bark was historically believed to ward off the plague when placed at front doors.
- Scientific name
- Prunus padus
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Rosales › Rosaceae › Prunus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist woodlands, riverbanks, forest edges, and hedgerows.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis)
- Range
- Europe, Northern Asia, Japan
- Size
- 8 to 15 meters tall with a crown spread of up to 8 meters
- Lifespan
- 60-80 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, drought, and defoliation by the bird cherry ermine moth.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but defensive if ingested. The leaves, bark, and fruit seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which release toxic cyanide when chewed. Do not consume the seeds or raw leaves. If large quantities of seeds are ingested, seek medical attention immediately.
Prunus padus , known as bird cherry , hackberry , hagberry , or Mayday tree , is a flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is a species of cherry, a deciduous small tree or large shrub up to 16 m tall. It is the type species of the subgenus Padus , which have flowers in racemes. It is native to northern Europe and northern Asia.
Photo: Sciadopitys, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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