Prunus cerasus

Prunus cerasus

The sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L., 1753), is a fruit tree species of the Rosaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to the Eukaryota Domain, Kingdom Plantae, Subarranean Tracheobionta, Spermatophyta Superdivision, Magnoliophyta Division, Magnoliopsida Class, Subclass Rosidae, Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae and therefore to the Genus Prunus and to the Species P. cerasus.

Etymology –
The term Prunus comes from prunus, in Pliny, Latinization of the Greek προῦμνη proúmne plum, pruno in Theophrastus and Dioscorides, probably derived from a pre-Greek language of Asia Minor, see also prunum plum, plum from the Greek προῦνον proúnon in Galen. The specific epithet cerasus derives from cerasus cherry, in turn from the Greek κέρασος ceraso.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Amareno should have an origin around the Black Sea. The origin is however uncertain. For some authors he would try from Western Asia, Eastern Europe or the Middle East, the regions of Armenia and the Caucasus, others consider it endemic to Central and Eastern Europe, as numerous cherry seeds were found in Central European prehistoric sites. In Italy it is present in almost all regions. It is a cultivated species but sometimes wild in clearings or sparse coppices; from the plane up to 1,000 m s.l.m.

Description –
The Prunus cerasus is a small tree or stoloniferous shrub, up to 6 ÷ 10 m tall, with deciduous foliage and irregular foliage of dark green color. The trunk is sinuous and the branches are divided and with thick, almost blackish and pendulous ramuli. The bark is reddish brown that flakes orally. It has alternate leaves, scattered along the twigs, with a long petiole almost always devoid of glands, bright green and slightly coriaceous; the lamina is ovate-elliptic, briefly cuneata at the base and sharp or with a short mucron at the apex, with a minutely toothed margin, smooth and glabrous on the 2 pages; deciduous, linear stipulations with glandular teeth.
The flowers have a diameter of 2 ÷ 3 cm, hermaphrodites, collected in pedunculated pauciflori corymbids of 2 ÷ 4 elements, brought by leaves brachiblasts. The receptacle is campanulate and hairless; recessed ovate or oblong sepals, glabrous, generally denticolati; the corolla has obovate petals of 8 ÷ 12 mm, white. The ovary is hairless.
The fruits are globose drupes, 20-35 mm, glabrous, not pruinose, flattened at the base, bright red in color, with a sour taste, endocarp not adherent to the pulp; globose core, smooth, faired. The flowering is in the period of March ÷ May.

Cultivation –
Amareno is a species that easily adapts to any climate and does not need special care, often growing wild. He loves the sun, but also withstands low temperatures and drought. It has no particular requests for the land, grows adapting to any type. For the cultivation technique, the following sheet can be consulted.

Uses and Traditions –
Legend has it that the cherry was brought to Italy by the Roman general, Lucullo, known for the sumptuousness of his banquets. In some ancient writings we read that Lucullus collected the plant at Cerasunte, a city of Asia Minor, and transplanted it in his gardens around 65 BC In fact Pliny the old states that before the Roman consul Lucius Licinius Lucullus defeated Mithridates in 74 BC , “There were no cherries in Italy”. According to him then it was Lucullus who introduced them from Pontus. However, the news about sour cherries is few and uncertain. Perhaps its fruits are depicted in the frescoes of Pompeii, perhaps Virgilio referred to this plant in a passage of the second Georgica. It seems certain that the Prunus cerasus was then used as a grafting subject. Today the varieties of cherries grown all over the world are very numerous and are subdivided, as well as for the taste, for the consistency of the pulp, for the shape and color of the fruit. However, many centuries before the Christian era, the Greeks distinguished different varieties of cherries and in the III century BC. Teofraso described the culture as stable in those places.
The wood of this plant is of medium hardness, with a narrow and yellowish sapwood and pinkish brownish heartwood which is accentuated considerably with aging and aging producing reddish veins, is similar to that of Cherry and is used in the construction of fine furniture, slats for barriques, parquet, and is also highly appreciated in the boating industry. From the stem a resin is obtained which is also used as an adhesive; from the leaves a green dye is obtained.
Prunus cerasus contains organic acids, sugars, vitamins C and B, pectin, ceracianin dye, tannins, mineral salts, hydrocyanic acid glycoside, flavonoids.
It possesses diuretic, purifying and draining properties.
The peduncles of the fruit, especially in the past, were used against diarrhea, as diuretics, in slimming teas, as depuratives and in decoctions, as soothing to be used on chapped skin.
From the seeds you get an oil used in cosmetic products, as well as the fruit pulp can be used as an astringent and toning on irritated skin.
The fruits are appetites of sparrows, starlings and blackbirds.
In Italy there are mainly three varieties of sour cherry, with fruits of different colors and different acidity:
– Amareno (the most common variety), with light red fruits and bitterish, slightly acid (sour cherries);
– The Visciolo, with intense red fruits and a relatively sweet, slightly acid flavor (sour cherries);
– Il Marasco, with small red-blackish fruits and a very bitter and sour taste (the marasca) prunus mahaleb.

Preparation Mode –
The fruits of amarena (sour cherry) are used for the production of jams, syrups and liqueurs, such as Maraschino and Rataffia or Ratafia (not to be confused with Ratafià produced with syrup of black cherries) typical product of Abruzzo. They are also prepared for candied fruit or in spirit. Even the leaves are used in the production of a liqueur. Typical dish of Roman cuisine is the tart with sour cherry jam.
Particular is the use of the peduncles of the fruits that are harvested when fully ripe and left to dry in the sun. They have diuretic properties and are considered a sedative of the urinary tract. They are therefore used as a powerful diuretic for cystitis and renal failure. They are therefore considered as a medicinal herb.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, Advice and experience with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Publisher
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.

Attention: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.