When this happens, we often use more ambiguous terms like ‘clusters’ to differentiate them from flowers that are borne singly or from those with more obvious inflorescence types. Flowers often obscure the inflorescence, and sometimes inflorescences are so condensed they appear to be an umbel or a fascicle when they are actually a condensed raceme or corymb. Many inflorescences are difficult to determine and appear to be something they are not. They are often simply called clusters, the catch-all term for a tight group of flowers. These can be useful in identifying the different types of cherry trees.įascicles are simply clusters of flowers in a tight group arising from the same point without a rachis to attach to. Image by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree VitalizeĬherry tree flowers may be borne singly (not in a group) or in 2 – 100-flowered racemes, corymbs, umbels, or fascicles. The pistils in Prunus species vary little within the genus and typically are not used to help aid in identification between species, but can be used to help identify the genus. It is more difficult to see the ovary in most Prunus species without dissecting the flower because they are often obscured by the stamens and are half-superior and partially embedded in the receptacle. The Female Reproductive Structures of a Cherry Tree FlowerĪll cherry species also have a single pale green pistil – the female reproductive organs that consist of an ovary (where the seeds develop and fruit forms), a style (a stalk that supports the stigma), and a stigma (the receptive surface that receives the pollen).Ĭherry trees have a cylindrical style topped with a bulbous pale green stigma that can be seen in the center of the flower and is surrounded by the usually slightly shorter stamens. The number of stamens and the color of their filaments and anthers can help identify the different types of cherry trees. In cherries, there are usually between 10 – 30 stamens, typically in multiples of five stamens that are of unequal lengths within the flower but are usually shorter or equal in length to the petals. Stamens are the male reproductive structure of a flower and are composed of a filament (stalk) and an anther (the male pollen-producing and releasing structure). The Male Reproductive Structures of a Cherry Tree FlowerĬherry flowers also have multiple stamens. The petals of most cherry trees have notched (emarginate) tips. Like all members of the rose family, they also have five free petals (not joined into a tube) and five sepals that may or may not be free. Identifying Cherry Trees by Their FlowersĬherry trees are part of the Rosaceae or rose family, and like the rest of their family, they almost always have functionally bisexual flowers with both male and female organs in the same flower. Some leaves are rugose or wrinkled, usually caused by indentations along the leaf veins that give them a wrinkled appearance. Sometimes leaf surfaces, mostly just the lower leaf surface, are glaucous with an epicuticular waxy coating that gives it a dull blue-gray appearance and can be easily rubbed off. The glands are sometimes stalked or sometimes sessile. They may also have glands on their leaves, sepals, and buds. Sometimes surfaces are just described as hairy, but knowing what kind of hair really helps to identify different species.Ĭherry tree hairs may be puberulent (soft and very short, often downy or velvety to the touch), pubescent (soft hairs, longer than puberulent but not as long as pilose), or tomentose (long, curled, and matted). Identifying Cherry Trees by Their Hairs and Other Surface FeaturesĬherry trees also sometimes have hairs on their leaves or other surfaces that can be used to help the different types of cherry trees.īotanists have a lot of different terms to describe the various plant hairs, also called trichomes. Some species have evergreen leaves that tend to look very laurel-like, though laurels are completely unrelated.Ĭherry leaves can be elliptic (shaped like an ellipse, widest in the middle and narrowing at both ends), oblong (having parallel sides and mostly rounded tips and bases), ovate (egg-shaped, widest at the base), obovate (egg-shaped, widest at the tip), lanceolate (like ovate but narrower, with a length-to-width ratio of 3:1 or greater and widest at the base), or oblanceolate (like lanceolate but widest at the tip). They return the following spring, often after the flowers have bloomed but sometimes before or with the flowers. Most cherries have deciduous leaves that usually turn color in the autumn before falling off. Most species have simple leaves that are not lobed or compound, but rare exceptions do exist. Prunus never have oppositely arranged leaves in opposite pairs at the node, which will help differentiate them from some of the other trees with simple leaves. Images by Lyrae Willis, Own Work – for Tree Vitalize
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