Prunus mahaleb

Prunus mahaleb
Spring flowers of St. Lucie cherry
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Subgenus: Prunus subg. Cerasus
Species:
P. mahaleb
Binomial name
Prunus mahaleb
Subspecies

See text.

Distribution map
Synonyms

Of the species:[3]

  • Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill.
  • Mahaleb vulgaris Takht.
  • Padellus mahaleb (L.) Vassilcz.
  • Padus mahaleb (L.) Borkh.

Of subsp. cupaniana:[4]

  • Padellus mahaleb subsp. cupaniana (Guss.) Pénzes
  • Prunus cupaniana Guss.

Of subsp. mahaleb:[5]

  • Cerasus corymbosa St.-Lag.
  • Druparia mahaleb Clairv.
  • Padellus mahaleb subsp. simonkaii (Pénzes) Soják
  • Padus monstrosa Dippel
  • Prunus mahaleb subsp. baldaccii Pénzes
  • Prunus mahaleb subsp. simonkaii Pénzes
  • Prunus odorata Lam.

Prunus mahaleb, the mahaleb cherry[6] or St Lucie cherry, is a species of cherry tree. The tree is cultivated for a spice obtained from the seeds inside the cherry stones. The seeds have a fragrant smell and have a taste comparable to bitter almonds with cherry notes.

The tree is native to central and southern Europe, Iran and parts of central Asia. It is adjudged to be native in northwestern Europe or at least it is naturalized there.[2][7][8] It is a deciduous tree or large shrub, growing to 2–10 m (rarely up to 12 m) tall with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter.

  1. ^ Rhodes, L. & Maxted, N. (2016). "Prunus mahaleb". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T172121A48416825. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Prunus mahaleb". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_729931-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_77252155-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_77231214-1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ NRCS. "Prunus mahaleb". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  7. ^ Euro+Med Plantbase Project: Prunus mahaleb Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.