Rosaceae

Prunus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 473 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Cosmopolitan.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs, ‘treelets’, small trees and sub-canopy trees to 25 m
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules present on the twigs at junction with petioles
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, petiolate, spirally arranged, elliptic to lanceolate, entire or margin incised or serrate, often with glands in the margin, on leaf underside or on petiole
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a raceme, fascicle or occasionally solitary, rarely branched
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, hypanthium present, usually cupular; sepals 5, imbricate; petals 5, white or pink; stamens numerous (15–80), in 2 whorls; ovary superior, syncarpous, 1-locular, ovules 2, pendulous, usually only 1 developing, style terminal, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a drupe, mesocarp fleshy to dry, occasionally dehiscent, endocarp hard
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed usually 1, without endosperm.
Distribution
Prunus can be found in a wide range of habitats in New Guinea, including primary forests, regrowth, and montane habitats from sea level to c. 3500 m. About 200 species with a cosmopolitan distribution. The genus is economically important as a source of fruits and nuts, timber and ornamentals; about 15 species in New Guinea of which nine are endemic. The genus Pygeum Gaertn. is now treated within Prunus.
Recognition
Members of the genus can be recognised by the spirally arranged, simple leaves often with some glands at the base of the lamina, the flowers with 5 sepals, 5 petals, syncarpous ovary with a terminal style and solid (rather than soft and pithy) stems; in addition, the cut trunk and branches may smell of almonds and the leaves are often damaged or broken (especially on drying). It may be confused with Chrysobalanaceae, which have 5-merous flowers, often have glands on the petiole and have a 1-seeded drupaceous fruit; in addition, Chrysobalanaceae can be distinguished by the eccentric, gynobasic style (terminal and central in Prunus).
[TONG]

Rosaceae, E. J. Mendes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Trees or shrubs, sometimes spiny.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, deciduous or persistent, simple, entire or incised; stipules small, caducous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers usually bisexual, solitary or fasciculate-corymbose or in racemes, sometimes precocious.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth usually biseriate and 5-merous, sometimes irregularly so.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube obconic, campanulate, cyathiform or tubular; calyx-lobes imbricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals inserted at the mouth of the calyx-tube, or absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10–∞, inserted with the petals; filaments filiform, free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels
Carpel 1, style terminal, stigma peltate, capitate or truncate; ovules 2, collateral.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit drupaceous, fleshy or dry, indehiscent, 1- or rarely 2-seeded.
[FZ]

Rosaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Hermaphrodite or occasionally polygamous trees or shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, entire or serrate, petiolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx cup-like, with 5 lobes later deciduous leaving a narrow circular rim
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals (0–)5(–12), small, inserted in the mouth of the calyx-tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens (10–)21–33(–35), perigynous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary superior, sessile, narrowed above; ovules 2, paired; style terminal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit drupaceous, 1–2-seeded; pericarp dry.
[FTEA]

Common Names

English
Apple Blossom Cherry, Great White Cherry, Kanzan Cherry, Weeping Cherry

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China

    • The Malesian Key Group (2010) Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China (Version 2.0, 28 Jul 2010) The Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Leiden and The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Living Collection Database

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0