Prunus caroliniana (USA)

Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Aiton, Hortus kewensis Hortus kewensis; 1789 163 1789. (syn: Bumelia serrata Pursh; Chimanthus amygdalina Raf.; Laurocerasus caroliniana (Mill.) M.Roem.; Prunus lusitanica Walter);
USA (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas), Mexico (Aguascalientes, Nuevo Leon) as per Catalogue of Life;

Prunus caroliniana, known as the Carolina Cherry Laurel, with syns. Cherry Laurel, Carolina Cherry, Laurelcherry or Wild Mock Orange, is a flowering tree native to the Southeastern United States, from North Carolina south to Florida and westward to central Texas.[3] [4][5] The species has also escaped into the wild in a few places in California.[6]

Prunus caroliniana is not to be confused with its European relative Prunus laurocerasus, which is also called Cherry Laurel, though mainly known as English Laurel in the U.S.
Prunus caroliniana is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree which grows to about 8–13 meters (26-43 feet) tall, with a spread of about 6–9 meters (20-30 feet). The leaves are dark green, alternate, shiny, leathery, elliptic to oblanceolate, 5–12 cm (2-4.8 inches) long, usually with an entire (smooth) margin, but occasionally serrulate (having subtle serrations), and with cuneate bases. The twigs are red to grayish brown, slender, and hariless.[7] Reproductively mature trees have entire margins, whereas immature ones often have serrations.[8])
The white to cream-colored flowers are produced in racemes (stalked bunches) 5–8 cm (2.0-3.2 inches) long in the late winter to early spring.[3] The fruits are tiny black cherries about 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter, which persist through winter and are primarily consumed by birds (February – April).[8]
The leaves and branches contain high amounts of cyanogenic glycosides that break down into hydrogen cyanide when damaged, making it a potential toxic hazard to grazing livestock and children.[3] Due to this, it is considered highly deer-resistant.[8] When crushed, its leaves and green twigs emit a fragrance described as resembling maraschino cherries[9] or almond extract.
(from Wikipedia on 21.9.15)
 

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Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Aiton
syn: Laurocerasus caroliniana (Mill.) M. Roem. Padus caroliniana Mill.
Common names: Carolina laurel cherry, mock orange, wild orange
Evergreen tree with lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, 5-10 cm long, entire glossy  leaves; flowers in dense 2.5 cm long racemes, 5-6 mm across; fruit ovoid, 7-8 mm long, black shining.
Photographed from California.

Prunus caroliniana (Mill.) Aiton
syn: Laurocerasus caroliniana (Mill.) M. Roem. Padus caroliniana Mill.
Common names: Carolina laurel cherry, mock orange, wild orange
Evergreen tree with lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, 5-10 cm long, entire glossy  leaves; flowers in dense 2.5 cm long racemes, 5-6 mm across; fruit ovoid, 7-8 mm long, black shining.
Photographed from California.

Grown along pathways in Sunnyvale

Oh, ok.. that region of the state used to used to have fruit orchards… noice …
so these are now escaped and growing  own their own?


 

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