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Synonym: Padus
virginiana. Prunus virginiana. (Chokecherry) Foothills, montane. Shrublands,
woodlands.
Spring. Chokecherry is found almost from coast to coast across the central and northern United States and southern Canada. Chokecherry berries are an important wildlife food and humans have eaten their berries for millennia. Even young Chokecherry trees produce a beautiful spring show of white flowers and a good crop of berries. Mature trees, such as those pictured, produce sufficient berries for many pies, quarts of jelly, and pounds of bear fat. "Padus" is, according to William A. Weber, the ancient Greek name for this plant. "Virginiana" is a common specific epithet given to honor the place the plant was first collected. (Other states, territories, or rivers are also the source of plant names: "Canadensis", "Missouriensis", "Arizonica".... The colony/state of "Virginia" derives its name from the "Virgin Queen", Queen Elizabeth the First of England.) "Prunus" is the more widely accepted generic name for this plant and it was given by Linnaeus in 1753 from a plant collected in Virginia by John Clayton. |
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Synonym:
Padus
virginiana. Prunus virginiana.
(Chokecherry) Foothills, montane. Shrublands,
woodlands.
Spring. Chokecherry's abundance of flowers are showy and fragrant. |
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|
Synonym:
Padus
virginiana. Prunus virginiana.
(Chokecherry) Foothills, montane. Shrublands,
woodlands.
Spring. Chokecherries are a vital wildlife food in the mesa and low mountain country of the Southwest with berries eaten by birds, bears, chipmunks, and human beings. Chokecherries were very important in the diet of the Anasazi and other native people. |
