red glands (extrafloral nectaries) on petiole.
prunus avium deciduous tree growing 15–32 m (49–105 ft) tall, trunk 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in diameter. young trees show strong apical dominance straight trunk , symmetrical conical crown, becoming rounded irregular on old trees. bark smooth purplish-brown prominent horizontal grey-brown lenticels on young trees, becoming thick dark blackish-brown , fissured on old trees. leaves alternate, simple ovoid-acute, 7–14 cm (2.8–5.5 in) long , 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) broad, glabrous matt or sub-shiny green above, variably finely downy beneath, serrated margin , acuminate tip, green or reddish petiole 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) long bearing 2 5 small red glands. tip of each serrated edge of leaves bear small red glands. in autumn, leaves turn orange, pink or red before falling. flowers produced in spring @ same time new leaves, borne in corymbs of 2 6 together, each flower pendent on 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) peduncle, 2.5–3.5 cm (0.98–1.38 in) in diameter, 5 pure white petals, yellowish stamens, , superior ovary; hermaphroditic, , pollinated bees. ovary contains 2 ovules, 1 of becomes seed. fruit drupe 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter (larger in cultivated selections), bright red dark purple when mature in midsummer, edible, variably sweet astringent , bitter eat fresh. each fruit contains single hard-shelled stone 8–12 mm long, 7–10 mm wide , 6–8 mm thick, grooved along flattest edge; seed (kernel) inside stone 6–8 mm long.
prunus avium in spring
the fruit readily eaten numerous kinds of birds , mammals, digest fruit flesh , disperse seeds in droppings. rodents, , few birds (notably hawfinch), crack open stones eat kernel inside. parts of plant except ripe fruit toxic, containing cyanogenic glycosides.
the leaves provide food animals, including lepidoptera such case-bearer moth coleophora anatipennella.
the tree exudes gum wounds in bark, seals wounds exclude insects , fungal infections.
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