Cherry Plum
Cherry Plum, Powerstock Common, Dorset
20 stamens, style and stigma
Close-up of anthers, style and capitate stigma
Reddish tinge at base of corolla
Emerging leaves
Last year's green twig
Trunk
Prunus cerasifera
Rosaceae
February to April
It is scattered throughout the country, but is most common
in the Southeast and least common in the far Southwest.
See the BSBI distribution map for Cherry Plum
It grows in hedges and woods.
It is also planted as an early flowering ornamental tree.
It is a neophyte which was first planted in the UK in the
1500s, but not noted in the wild until the 1900s.
Cherry Plum is a shrub or small tree, growing up to 8m.
The flowers appear with the leaves.
Flowers are up to 2.5cm across with 5 white petals.
There are 20 stamens with white filaments.
The anthers start off cream and darken as they age.
There is a pale green style with a capitate stigma.
The centre of the corolla becomes reddish.
The fruits are yellow to red globes up to 2.5cm, but
are only formed in favourable conditions.
Young twigs are green and hairless.
Older twigs and the trunk are grey and sometimes have
a red tinge.
Cherry Plum blossom stands out in hedge-rows as it is
the first of the genus to flower - before Blackthorn.
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Cherry Plum, Powerstock Common, Dorset
20 stamens, style and stigma
Close-up of anthers, style and capitate stigma
Reddish tinge at base of corolla
Emerging leaves
Last year's green twig
Trunk
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