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{{2otheruses|the tree|the album by Koda Kumi|Black Cherry (Kumi Koda album)|the album by Goldfrapp|Black Cherry (album)}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Black Cherry
| image = Amerikaanse vogelkers Prunus serotina closeup.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Black Cherry flowers and leaves
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Prunoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Prunus]]''
| subgenus = ''[[bird cherry|Padus]]''
| species = '''''P. serotina'''''
| binomial = ''Prunus serotina''
| binomial_authority = [[Ehrh.]]
}}
The '''Black Cherry''', '''Cabinet Cherry''', '''Whiskey Cherry''', '''Wild Black Cherry''' or, '''Wild Cherry''' (''Prunus serotina'') is a species of [[Prunus|cherry]], native to [[Eastern United States|eastern]] [[North America]] from southern [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]] south to [[Texas]] and central [[Florida]]. It is a species in the subgenus ''[[bird cherry|Padus]]'' with [[flower]]s in [[raceme]]s, and is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] growing to 15-30 m tall.
[[Image:Wild_cherry_bark.jpg|thumb|left|Black Cherry bark]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, 6-14 cm long, with a serrated margin. The [[fruit]] are 1 cm in diameter, somewhat [[astringent]] and bitter to eat fresh, but suitable for making [[jam]] and [[pie|cherry pies]]; they are also a popular flavoring for [[soft drink|soda]]s. The fruit is readily eaten by [[bird]]s, which do not taste astringency as unpleasant. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. The Black Cherry can easily be identified in a forest by its papery, dark red bark. However, for about the first decade or so of its life, the bark resembles that of a [[Birch]], and is thin and striped. It can also quickly be identified by its long, shiny leaves resembling that of a [[Sourwood]].
The Black Cherry is a [[Pioneer species]]. In the [[Midwest]], it is seen growing mostly in old fields with other sunlight loving species, such as [[Black Walnut]], [[Black locust]], and [[Hackberry]]. It rarely grows to more than 3' diameter, and is short lived for a tree of its size. The short life span may be influenced by the Black Cherry's weak limbs, which break easily during storms and snowfalls. This leads to exposure of the trunk, which causes early decay. The Black Cherry is also a host of the [[Eastern tent caterpillar]], which defoliate entire groves some springs.
It is recommended that farmers quickly remove any Black Cherry trees that fall in a field containing livestock, because the wilted leaves release [[Cyanide]], which if eaten could poison the animals. Removal is not always practical though, because Black Cherries often grow in very large numbers on farms, taking advantage of the light brought about by mowing and grazing. Entire fencerows can be lined with this posionous tree, making it difficult to monitor all the branches falling into the grazing area.
This is perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the US, traded as "cherry". It is known for its strong red color and high price.
It is closely related to the [[Chokecherry]] (''Prunus virginiana''), from which it differs in the larger leaves and the cherries, which when ripe are black (hence the name), not red.
==External links==
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/prse2.htm ''Prunus serotina'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PRSE2 NCRS: USDA Plants Profile: ''Prunus serotina'']
{{Commons|Prunus serotina}}
[[Category:Cherries]]
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
[[Category:Trees of Eastern United States|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Ontario|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Quebec|Cherry, Black]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Black Cherry
| image = Amerikaanse vogelkers Prunus serotina closeup.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Black Cherry flowers and leaves
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Prunoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Prunus]]''
| subgenus = ''[[bird cherry|Padus]]''
| species = '''''P. serotina'''''
| binomial = ''Prunus serotina''
| binomial_authority = [[Ehrh.]]
}}
The '''Black Cherry''', '''Cabinet Cherry''', '''Whiskey Cherry''', '''Wild Black Cherry''' or, '''Wild Cherry''' (''Prunus serotina'') is a species of [[Prunus|cherry]], native to [[Eastern United States|eastern]] [[North America]] from southern [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]] south to [[Texas]] and central [[Florida]]. It is a species in the subgenus ''[[bird cherry|Padus]]'' with [[flower]]s in [[raceme]]s, and is a [[deciduous]] [[tree]] growing to 15-30 m tall.
[[Image:Wild_cherry_bark.jpg|thumb|left|Black Cherry bark]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, 6-14 cm long, with a serrated margin. The [[fruit]] are 1 cm in diameter, somewhat [[astringent]] and bitter to eat fresh, but suitable for making [[jam]] and [[pie|cherry pies]]; they are also a popular flavoring for [[soft drink|soda]]s. The fruit is readily eaten by [[bird]]s, which do not taste astringency as unpleasant. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. The Black Cherry can easily be identified in a forest by its papery, dark red bark. However, for about the first decade or so of its life, the bark resembles that of a [[Birch]], and is thin and striped. It can also quickly be identified by its long, shiny leaves resembling that of a [[Sourwood]].
The Black Cherry is a [[Pioneer species]]. In the [[Midwest]], it is seen growing mostly in old fields with other sunlight loving species, such as [[Black Walnut]], [[Black locust]], and [[Hackberry]]. It rarely grows to more than 3' diameter, and is short lived for a tree of its size. The short life span may be influenced by the Black Cherry's weak limbs, which break easily during storms and snowfalls. This leads to exposure of the trunk, which causes early decay. The Black Cherry is also a host of the [[Eastern tent caterpillar]], which defoliate entire groves some springs.
It is recommended that farmers quickly remove any Black Cherry trees that fall in a field containing livestock, because the wilted leaves release [[Cyanide]], which if eaten could poison the animals. Removal is not always practical though, because Black Cherries often grow in very large numbers on farms, taking advantage of the light brought about by mowing and grazing. Entire fencerows can be lined with this posionous tree, making it difficult to monitor all the branches falling into the grazing area.
This is perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the US, traded as "cherry". It is known for its strong red color and high price.
It is closely related to the [[Chokecherry]] (''Prunus virginiana''), from which it differs in the larger leaves and the cherries, which when ripe are black (hence the name), not red.
==External links==
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/prse2.htm ''Prunus serotina'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PRSE2 NCRS: USDA Plants Profile: ''Prunus serotina'']
{{Commons|Prunus serotina}}
[[Category:Cherries]]
[[Category:Flora of North America]]
[[Category:Trees of Eastern United States|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Plains-Midwest U.S.|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Ontario|Cherry, Black]]
[[Category:Trees of Quebec|Cherry, Black]]
