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Cokxkll Juniok Extension Bulletin 26 



42. PIN CHERRY 



Wild Red Cherry, Fire Cherry 



(Pr units pennsylvannica Linnaeus fils.) 



I' in cherry is a "weed" tree coming in on burned, cut-over, and 

 abandoned Land throughout the State, except in the higher Adirondacks. 

 It is not a timber-producing species and its main value lies in its ability 



PIN CHERRY 



Leaf and fruit, natural size ; 

 twig, one-half natural size 



to cover waste land and to protect the soil until larger and more im- 

 portant trees can establish themselves and crowd it out. The wood is 

 light, soft, close-grained, with light brown heartwood, and is seldom used. 



Bark — bright, reddish brown in color, for the most part smooth, often 

 slightly peeling around the trunk, marked with numerous long, pale 

 breathing pores ; in old trees somewhat roughened near the base. 



Twigs — slender, smooth, shiny, bright red in color, a characteristic 

 bitter almond taste, peculiar odor. 



Winter buds — very small, reddish brown in color, characteristically 

 clustered at the twig tip and sometimes along the sides; terminal bud 

 present, usually smaller than the lateral buds around it. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, from 3 to 5 inches long, much longer than 

 broad as contrasted with the broader leaves of wild black cherry, sharp- 

 pointed, with finely serrate margins. 



Fruit — a round, juicy, one-seeded fruit, light red in color, about *4 

 inch in diameter, arrayed on long stems, from 3 to 5 in a cluster, ripen- 

 ing in July. Birds often pick the ripe fruit. 



