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Prunus avium

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Record ID:58

Naming

Botanical Name: Prunus avium
Common Names: Wild Cherry, Gean, Mazzard
Key Name: Sweet Cherry
Parts Used: Bark, fruit, leaves
Sister Plants: Prunus cerasus, Prunus serotina, Prunus padus
Comments: Valued fruit tree with significant pollinator support; widely cultivated globally

Characteristics

Identifying Character: Medium to large tree (30-60 ft), reddish-brown bark with lenticels, serrated oval leaves, white flowers in clusters, dark red to black cherries
Stem: Reddish-brown with horizontal lenticels, peeling in mature trees
Leaves: Oval, serrated, 2-5 inches, glossy green turning yellow in fall
Flowers: White, 5-petaled flowers in clusters, blooming April-May
Fruit: Dark red to black cherries, 1-2 cm, ripening June-July
Taste: Sweet to slightly tart (fruit), bitter (bark)
Odour: Mildly fragrant flowers, woody bark scent
Root: Deep, spreading root system; supports soil structure
Image: Prunus avium
Image URL: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.gYRG6pQthH2pzW3deYRSzgHaJ4%26pid%3DApi&f=1&ipt=03f6d5d3a83b6512faa763d7fa7fd68549e86aaebb893d1f2a51ae87413690c9&ipo=images

Distribution

Distribution: Europe, Western Asia, North Africa; naturalized worldwide
Cultivation: Prefers well-drained loam, full sun; propagate by seed or grafting
Harvest: Bark: Spring from pruned branches; Fruit: Early summer

Medical

Therapeutic Action: Astringent, diuretic, expectorant, sedative
Medical Uses: Used for coughs, colds, bronchitis, digestive issues, urinary tract health, and mild sedation; bark as a cough remedy
Constituents: Anthocyanins, coumarins, amygdalin (in bark), vitamin C
Solvents: Water, alcohol (tincture), glycerin
Dosage: Bark tincture: 5-10 drops in water 2-3 times daily; Fruit: 10-20 cherries daily
Administration: Internal: Tincture or syrup; External: Poultice for inflammation
Formulas: Combine with licorice for cough syrup; with chamomile for sedation
Contra Indications: Bark contains amygdalin (cyanide risk if overused); avoid in pregnancy; consult healthcare provider
Preparation: Tincture: Steep 1 part bark in 5 parts alcohol for 2-4 weeks; Syrup: Simmer bark with honey and water
Chinese: No documented use in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Veterinary: Used for coughs or wound poultices in livestock
Homeopathic: No known homeopathic use documented

Pollination and Pollinators

Apis: No
Pollinator: 1
Pollen: Yes
Pollen Notes: Wind-dispersed, visited by bees for pollen
Nectar: Yes
Nectar Notes: Attracts bees for nectar, supports pollinator health

Other

Non-Medical Uses: Wood for furniture, ornamental planting, wildlife habitat
Culinary Uses: Fruit eaten fresh, dried, or in preserves; bark in teas
History: Used in European folk medicine for centuries; bark in cough syrups since antiquity
Reference: Plants For A Future; European Herbal Traditions
URL: https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+avium
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