Virginian bird cherry
| Virginian bird cherry | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virginian bird cherry ( Prunus virginiana ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Prunus virginiana | ||||||||||||
| L. |
The Virginian bird cherry ( Prunus virginiana ) is a species of the genus Prunus . It is similar to the European bird cherry and the laurel cherry . In contrast to many Eurasian species, the hydrogen cyanide content is so low, except in the stone kernels, that the fruits are suitable for human consumption. It was particularly important as a supplier of vitamins for the indigenous population. In Lakota it was called canpá sápa , which can be translated as “black cherry” ( sápa = black; canpá = cherry, cherry tree, “sour tree”, can = tree, wood + pa = sour, bitter). It often forms thickets and thus helps to stabilize the soil in sandy areas.
description
The Virginian bird cherry is a small, densely branched, stocky shrub or tree with a tendency to dwarfism ( rarely higher than a man's height on the prairie ). The bark is reddish brown and smooth, with small, light-colored warts (lenticels) . The alternate leaves are elliptical to obovate and pointed with a finely serrated edge . They are strong medium to dark green, hairless and shiny with a thick layer of wax, but not as leathery as the cherry laurel. The leaf length is about 9 centimeters.
The creamy white, inconspicuous, sweet-smelling flowers grow in hanging clusters . The flowering time depends on the location.
The roughly chickpea-sized, round, initially dark red, then shiny black stone fruits have one stone core per fruit and relatively little pulp. Not yet fully ripe, reddish fruits are slightly astringent . The fruits are eaten by humans and animals, especially bears and birds like to eat them.
The chromosome number for Prunus virginiana var. Demissa (Nutt.) Torr. (Syn .: Prunus virginiana subsp. Melanocarpa (A. Nelson) Roy L. Taylor & MacBryde ) 2n = 16.
ecology
In the northern part of the range it grows as undergrowth in forests. Due to the numerous cherry fruits, it is important for the wild animal population of the respective biotope. However, the leaves are poisonous for sheep, cattle and horses due to their hydrogen cyanide content. Flowering time depending on site conditions from April to June, the leaves sprout before flowering.
Occurrence
It is the most common American Prunus species. It occurs in various regional subspecies from the Canadian prairie lands to Texas and from Newfoundland to British Columbia . They are found on the Great Lakes in the east and from North Carolina to California and south to New Mexico . In addition, it can be found in slightly wetter areas throughout the Great Plains , for example along the banks of rivers and creeks, in gorges and valleys, on cooler mountain slopes and in at least partially forested areas and ecologically important in the otherwise tree-poor Missouri area.
use
For the indigenous population, the Virginian bird cherry was so important as a vitamin supplier that the Lakota named one month of their natural calendar after the ripening time of these fruits: Canpá Sápa Wi (July, cherry-black-moon). Even the date of the sun dance , on Lakota wiwányank wacípi , was set when the wild cherries were ripe. Due to its importance as food, it was also generally important in ceremonies and was served as a symbol of fertility.
The English name "Chokecherry" (roughly: Würg cherry) alludes to the stone pits that are difficult to remove and that have to be spat out when the fresh fruit is consumed. The fruits can be eaten raw or boiled down to make compote, jelly and jam. For the Lakota , canpá wójapi , a type of red fruit jelly, was a traditional dish. The taste of raw fruits is sour and is reminiscent of the fruits of the blackthorn and local wild cherries. Since the fruits are very difficult to stone, the Lakota and other tribes dried the fruits like raisins and ground them with the seeds. The resulting powder was used as an ingredient in the production of pemmican on Lakota wasná .
proof
literature
- Melvin R. Gilmore: Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region . Lincoln / Nebraska, 2nd edition 1991, ISBN 0-8032-7034-8
- James R. Johnson, Gary E. Larson: Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains . Brookings, SD 1999, ISBN 0-913062-06-5
- Rebecca Netzel: Animal Nation and Plant Nation, A Fieldguide for Lakóta Children and for all those adults who still care about Creation . Trier 2007, ISBN 978-3-88476-945-4
- Gregory L. Tilford: Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West . Missoula, Montana 1997, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
- Theodore Van Bruggen: Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Plants of the Northern Plains and Black Hills . Rapid City, 5th ed. 2003, ISBN 0-912410-05-1
- Susan J. Wernert (Ed.): North American Wildlife , Pleasantville, NY 15th ed. 1991, ISBN 0-89577-102-0
Individual evidence
- ^ German name according to Karl Hammer: From apricot to plum - fruit from the genus Prunus. (PDF; 455 kB) (No longer available online.) University of Kassel, archived from the original on July 19, 2011 ; Retrieved January 9, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Prunus virginiana subsp. melanocarpa at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
