Fruit Prunus_avium

pair of fruit growing same stem

some eighteenth- , nineteenth-century botanical authors assumed western asia origin species based on writings of pliny; however, archaeological finds of seeds prehistoric europe contradict view. wild cherries have been item of human food several thousands of years. stones have been found in deposits @ bronze age settlements throughout europe, including in britain. in 1 dated example, wild cherry macrofossils found in core sample detritus beneath dwelling @ , middle bronze age pile-dwelling site on , in shore of former lake @ desenzano del garda or lonato, near southern shore of lake garda, italy. date estimated @ bronze age ia, carbon dated there 2077 bce plus or minus 10 years. natural forest largely cleared @ time.

by 800 bce, cherries being actively cultivated in asia minor, , after in greece.

as main ancestor of cultivated cherry, sweet cherry 1 of 2 cherry species supply of world s commercial cultivars of edible cherry (the other sour cherry prunus cerasus, used cooking; few other species have had small input). various cherry cultivars grown worldwide wherever climate suitable; number of cultivars large. species has escaped cultivation , become naturalised in temperate regions, including southwestern canada, japan, new zealand, , northeast , northwest of united states.