black cherry (Prunus serotina)
Rosaceae, the rose family
How to recognize black cherry. Black cherry leaves are alternately, simple, and crenate-serrulate (i.e., having rounded teeth). The shape is oblong-lanceolate.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-leaves-750x563.jpg)
Black cherry leaves are crenate-serrate.
The petioles (leafstalks) bear a few blister-like glands.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-glands-750x563.jpg)
black cherry petiolar glands
Flowers and fruits. Cherry flowers are small, white, 5-petaled, and radially symmetric. The inflorescence is a elongate, with stalked flowers (a raceme).
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-flowers-750x563.jpg)
Black cherry flower on June 1, 2005.
The flowers are perigynous, i.e., with a floral cup that surrounds the ovary, and on the rim of which are attached the sepals, petals, and stamens.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-flower-750x563.jpg)
Black cherry flowers are radially symmetric with flower parts in 5’s.
The fruits are drupes–one-seeded fleshy fruits with a hard covering around the seed.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-fruyits-750x500.jpg)
Black cherry fruits are drupes presented in racemes.
Bark. The trunk of a mature black cherry is iconic: burnt potato chips!
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-bark-563x750.jpg)
Black cherry bark is rough and black.
In the winter. The twigs have a true terminal bud, somewhat elevated leaf scars, and small but prominent lenticals (breathing pores). When scratched, release an almond aroma.
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/black-cherry-twig-500x750.jpg)
black cherry twig
Where to find black cherry. E. Lucy Braun, in The Woody Plants of Ohio (1961, 1989; The Ohio State University Press) tells us about this species that “Most large specimens have long since been removed from our forests, for wild black cherry is a valuable timber tree whose wood resembles mahogany. Ranges throughout Ohio in mesic woods, second growth woodlands, and scattered along fence-rows; reaches its best development in mesic sites.”
Scanned Image from an Old Book
(Flora of West Virginia, by P.D. Strausbaugh and Earl L. Core)
![](https://dendro.ohioplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cherry-core.jpg)
black cherry
Ooh ooh. I have a question!
Would wilted black cherry leaves be good livestock food and if not, why not?
Heck no! The wilted foliage contains hydrogen cyanide, which inhibits the use of oxygen by cells.