Morello cherry
Prunus cerasus
Synonyms: Prunus cerasus var. frutescens, Cerasus pendula, Prunus cerasus var. duracina, Cerasus vulgaris var. rhexii, Cerasus austera multiplex, Cerasus acida var. rhexii, Cerasus communis, Cerasus vulgaris albidus, Prunus vulgaris, Prunus cerasus f. frutescens, Cerasus caproniana var. persiciflora, Cerasus vulgaris subsp. acida, Cerasus vulgaris f. umbraculifera, Prunus cerasus f. persiciflora, Prunus cerasus flore-roseo-pleno, Prunus cerasus salicifolia, Cerasus cerasus, Prunus cerasus subsp. eucerasus, Prunus cerasus var. caproniana, Cerasus caproniana var. montmorencyana, Cerasus collina f. flore-plena, Cerasus acida var. cucullata, Cerasus propera, Cerasus caproniana, Cerasus caproniana var. griotta, Prunus cerasus var. recta, Prunus avium var. caproniana, Prunus recta, Cerasus vulgaris florepleno, Cerasus vulgaris, Prunus cerasus f. umbraculifera, Prunus cerasus subsp. caproniana, Prunus cerasus f. ranunculiflora, Prunus cerasus f. globosa, Prunus cerasus f. semperflorens, Cerasus caproniana ranunculiflora, Cerasus caproniana var. cordigera, Cerasus caproniana var. montmenrocyana, Cerasus caproniana var. umbraculifera, Prunus cerasus var. plena, Cerasus conglobata, Prunus cerasus var. austera, Prunus caproniana f. salicifolia, Cerasus vulgaris f. plena, Cerasus austera, Cerasus vulgaris acidula, Cerasus vulgaris f. semperflorens, Prunus cerasus aureovariegata, Prunus cerasus f. salicifolia, Cerasus hortensis var. serotina, Prunus cerasus var. persiciflora, Prunus cerasus f. rhexii, Cerasus caproniana var. pallescens, Cerasus collina f. aureomarginata, Cerasus acida var. flore-pleno, Prunus cerasus var. erythrocarpus, Cerasus semperflorens var. sessiliflora, Cerasus longipes, Cerasus caproniana var. gobetta, Cerasus vulgaris var. marasca, Prunus cerasus var. marasca, Cerasus vulgaris subsp. eucerasus, Prunus cerasus var. jenensis, Prunus cerasus var. acida, Prunus cerasus var. umbraculifera, Cerasus marasca, Cerasus caproniana var. sativa, Prunus cerasus ranunculifera, Prunus cerasus var. globosa, Prunus cerasus var. pumila, Cerasus caproniana var. salicifolia, Cerasus peracida, Cerasus vulgaris f. persiciflora, Prunus caproniana florepleno, Druparia cerasus, Cerasus caproniana var. pumila, Prunus cerasus f. plena, Cerasus recta, Cerasus vulgaris var. frutescens, Prunus cerasus florepleno, Prunus cerasus f. semiplena, Cerasus vulgaris f. semiplena, Cerasus semperflorens, Prunus cerasus f. aureovariegata, Prunus cerasus plena, Cerasus caproniana melanocarpa, Prunus cerasus var. salicifolia, Prunus plena, Prunus cerasus var. pendula, Cerasus caproniana var. multiplex, Cerasus collina f. albovariegata, Prunus cerasus var. rhexii, Cerasus vulgaris var. austera, Prunus caproniana, Prunus semperflorens, Prunus avium subsp. duracina, Cerasus acida plena, Cerasus acida, Prunus austera, Prunus cerasus subsp. marasca, Cerasus caproniana flore-roseo-pleno, Prunus acida, Prunus cerasus var. bunyardii, Prunus cerasus ienensis, Prunus cerasus var. ranunculiflora, Prunus cerasus subsp. vulgaris, Cerasus vulgaris dulcis, Prunus cerasus var. typica, Cerasus avium subsp. duracina, Cerasus brevipes, Cerasus officinarum, Cerasus collina, Cerasus semperflorens var. pendula-aurea, Cerasus vulgaris f. aureovariegata, Cerasus caproniana var. polygyna, Prunus cerasus flore-albopleno, Prunus cerasus subsp. austera, Prunus aestiva, Cerasus vulgaris f. rhexii, Prunus cerasus f. marasca, Cerasus caproniana var. humilis, Prunus rosea, Prunus cerasus var. rosea, Prunus caproniana serotina, Cerasus hortensis, Cerasus vulgaris var. caproniana, Cerasus avium subsp. acida, Prunus avium subsp. cerasus, Prunus cerasus f. dumosa, Cerasus caproniana var. erythrocarpa, Cerasus vulgaris f. frutescens, Prunus cerasus var. humilis, Prunus cerasus f. variegata, Prunus cerasa, Prunus cerasus subsp. acida, Cerasus caproniana var. variegata, Prunus cerasus semperflorens, Cerasus caproniana regalis, Prunus cerasus var. semperflorens
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Prunus cerasus, the sour cherry, morello cherry, or tart cherry, is a small to medium deciduous tree in the family Rosaceae thought to have originated as an ancient natural hybrid (Prunus avium × Prunus fruticosa) in the Caucasus, Anatolia, and adjacent western Asia, and now cultivated worldwide in temperate climates for its tart fruits. The tree reaches 4-10 m in height, with a rounded open crown, slender spreading branches, and smooth reddish-brown to grey bark marked with conspicuous horizontal pale lenticels. Leaves are alternate, ovate to obovate, 5-10 cm long, sharply doubly serrate, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, with two small reddish nectary glands on the upper petiole near the leaf base. The flowers appear in spring before or with the leaves, borne in clusters of 2-5 on short shoots; each is 1.5-3 cm across with five rounded white petals, numerous yellow stamens, and a long slender pedicel. The fruit is a globose drupe 1.5-2.5 cm across, ripening from green to bright red or dark wine-red, with a translucent acid juicy flesh and a single hard stone (pyrene). The cultivars are usually divided into the bright-red translucent amarelle group and the dark-red opaque morello group.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
The NAEB database records 16 uses of Prunus cerasus, all by the Cherokee. Recorded medicinal applications include use as a cold remedy, cough medicine, febrifuge, gastrointestinal aid, dermatological aid, throat aid, oral aid, blood medicine, misc. disease remedy, and gynecological aid; the fruit was also eaten and parts of the tree were used for furniture, building material, and decoration (Hamel and Chiltoskey, 1975). The Cherokee acquired Prunus cerasus as a European introduction and integrated it into their materia medica, in parallel with their use of the native black cherry, Prunus serotina. In Western herbal medicine the dried cherry stems (stipites cerasorum) are a traditional diuretic decoction used for cystitis and oedema, and the fruit is well known as a source of antioxidant anthocyanins.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.