Pin cherry - Prunus pennsylvanica
Pronunciation: Proo-nus pen-sil-von-ih-kuh
Leaf: Alternate, simple, lanceolate, 3 - 5 inches long, 1 to 1 ½ inches wide, finely serrated margin, green above and slightly paler below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; white, ½ inch across, occurring in a small cluster.
Fruit: Red drupe, ¼ inch in diameter, ripening in midsummer, very sour.
Twig: Slender, glabrous, reddish brown; buds are small (1/8 inch), reddish brown and clustered at the branch tips; a mild bitter almond taste when chewed.
Bark: Lustrous, shiny, red-brown, long horizontal lenticels, may peel off in horizontal strips.
Form: A small tree to 30 feet tall, 1 foot in diameter.
Looks like: black cherry - choke cherry - sweet cherry - sour cherry
Prunus pennsylvanica - fire cherry Latin name for plum trees from Greek "prunos" (plum or cherry) / of Pennsylvania
Use Food: EDIBLE PARTS: Fruits are used for jelly or syrup. Boil down in water, strain, and add sugar to taste. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Wilted leaves, twigs (stems), seeds. Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. Symptoms include gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, and respiratory failure. Toxic Principle: Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin.
Leaf
Flower
Fruit
Buds
Bark