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BLACK CHERRY (WOd Cherry) 



(Prunus serotina Erh.) 



A medium-sized tree, up to about 70 feet high 

 and 1 to 3 feet in diameter, black cherry as a 

 tree is at its best in the high mountains. The forest- 

 grown trees have long clear trunks with little taper ; 

 open-grown trees have short trunks with many 

 branches and irregular spreading crowns. The bark 

 on branches and young trunks is smooth and bright 



• reddish brown, 

 marked by conspicu- 

 ous, narrow, white, 

 horizontal 

 lines, and 

 has a bit- 

 ter-almond 

 taste. On 

 the older 

 trunks the 

 bark be- 

 comes 

 rough and 

 broken 

 into thick, 

 irregular 

 plates. 



The 

 leaves are 

 alternate, 

 simple, 



oval to lance-like in shape, with edges broken by 

 many fine incurved teeth, thick and shiny above, 

 and paler beneath. 



The fruit is dull purplish black, about as large 

 as a pea, and is borne in long hanging clusters. 

 It ripens in late summer, and is edible, although 

 it has a slightly bitter taste. 



The wood is reddish brown with yellowish sap- 

 wood, moderately heavy, hard, strong, fine-grained, 

 and does not warp or split in seasoning. It is 

 valuable for its lustre and color and is used for 

 furniture, interior finish, tools, and implement han- 

 dles. With the exception of black walnut, the 

 cherry lumber has a greater unit value than any 

 other hardwood of the eastern United States. 



BLACK CHERET 

 Twig, two-thirds natural size. 

 Leaf, one-third natural size. 



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