Cultural_history Prunus_avium

pliny distinguishes between prunus, plum fruit, , cerasus, cherry fruit. in pliny quite number of cultivars cited, possibly species or varieties, aproniana, lutatia, caeciliana, , on. pliny grades them flavour, including dulcis ( sweet ) , acer ( sharp ). , goes far before roman consul lucius licinius lucullus defeated mithridates in 74 bc, cerasia … non fuere in italia, there no cherry trees in italy . according him, lucullus brought them in pontus , in 120 years since time had spread across europe britain.

although cultivated/domesticated varieties of prunus avium (sweet cherry) didn’t exist in britain or of europe, tree in wild state native of europe, including britain. evidence of consumption of wild fruits has been found far bronze age @ crannog in county offaly, in ireland.

seeds of number of cherry species have been found in bronze age , roman archaeological sites throughout europe. reference sweet , sour supports modern view sweet prunus avium; there no other candidates among cherries found. in 1882 alphonse de candolle pointed out seeds of prunus avium found in terramare culture of north italy (1500–1100 bc) , on layers of swiss pile dwellings. of pliny s statement says (p. 210):

since error perpetuated incessant repetition in classical schools, must once more said cherry trees (at least bird cherry) existed in italy before lucullus, , famous gourmet did not need go far seek species sour or bitter fruit.

de candolle suggests lucullus brought particular cultivar of prunus avium caucasus. origin of cultivars of p. avium still open question. modern cultivated cherries differ wild ones in having larger fruit, 2–3 cm diameter. trees grown on dwarfing rootstocks keep them smaller easier harvesting.

folkard (1892) identifies lucullus s cherry cultivated variety. states planted in britain century after introduction italy, disappeared during saxon period . notes in fifteenth century cherries on ryse (i.e. on twigs) 1 of street cries of london, conjectures these fruit of native wild cherry, or gean-tree . cultivated variety reintroduced britain fruiterer of henry viii, brought flanders , planted cherry orchard @ teynham.