Prunus ilicifolia

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Hollyleaf cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ne1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Species:
P. ilicifolia
Binomial name
Prunus ilicifolia
Prunus ilicifolia range map 3.png
Natural range of Prunus ilicifolia (var. ilicifolia green; var. occidentalis blue)
Synonyms [2] [3]
  • Cerasus ilicifoliaNutt. ex Hook. & Arn.
  • Laurocerasus ilicifolia(Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) M.Roem.
  • Lauro-cerasus ilicifolia(Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) M.Roem.
  • Prunus lyonii(Eastw.) Sarg.

Prunus ilicifolia (Common names: hollyleaf cherry, [4] evergreen cherry; [5] islay - Salinan Native American [6] ) is native to the chaparral areas of coastal California (from Mendocino County to San Diego County), Baja California, and Baja California Sur. [5] [7] as well as the desert chaparral areas of the Mojave Desert. [8] [9]

Contents

Prunus ilicifolia is an evergreen shrub [4] to tree, producing edible cherries, with shiny and spiny toothed leaves [4] similar in appearance to those of holly. This resemblance is the source of both the common name "holly-leaved cherry" and the scientific epithet "ilicifolia" (Ilex-leaved). It grows 2.4 to 9.1 metres (8 to 30 feet) tall, with thick, alternate leaves 2.5 to 5.1 centimetres (1 to 2 inches) in length. [4] It has small white flowers growing in clusters, similar in appearance to most members of the rose family, Rosaceae, flowering from March to May. [4] The flowers are terminal on small stalks, with the youngest at the cluster center. The purple to black fruit is sweet, with a very thin pulp around a large single stone (drupe). [4] [10]

The plant is prized for cultivation, showy and easily grown from seed, and has been cultivated for centuries as a food source, and tolerates twice yearly pruning when often used as a hedge. [4] The plant likes full sun, loose open soil (porous), and tolerates drought conditions well, but needs regular watering when young. [4]

Despite its name, it is not a true cherry (P. subg. Cerasus) species. It is traditionally included in P. subg. Laurocerasus, but molecular research indicates it is nested with species of P. subg. Padus. [11] Ilicifolia or “ilex foliage,” means “holly-like leaves” in Latin [4]

Description

Prunus ilicifolia flowers Prunus ilicifolia flowers 2005-03-24.jpg
Prunus ilicifolia flowers

It is an evergreen shrub [4] or small tree approaching 15 metres (49 feet) in height, [12] with dense, hard leaves [4] (sclerophyllous foliage). The leaves are 1.6–12 centimetres (3⁄4–4+3⁄4 inches) long with a 4–25 millimetres (1⁄8–1 in) petiole [12] and spiny margins, somewhat resembling those of the holly. The leaves are dark green when mature and generally shiny on top, and have a smell resembling almonds when crushed; these are poisonous to eat, but not to handle. [13] The flowers are small (1–5 mm), white, produced on racemes in the spring. The fruit is a cherry 12–25 mm in diameter, sweet in taste, with little flesh surrounding the smooth seed. [12] [14] [15]

Subspecies

There are two subspecies: [16] [17] [18]

Distribution and habitat

Prunus ilicifolia is native to California chaparral and foothill woodlands along the Coast Ranges below 1,600 m (5,200 ft). [12] Its distribution extends from northern Baja California along the California coast to the northernmost extent of the Coast Ranges, [12] as well as into the desert chaparral areas of the Mojave Desert. In chaparral communities, it tends to inhabit north-facing slopes, erosion channels, or other moist, cool sites. [5] This is the only species of the genus Prunus native to California's Santa Monica Mountains, which divide the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley. [4]

It is a persistent member of chaparral communities, being slow-growing but long-lived; common chaparral flora associates are toyon, western poison-oak and coffeeberry. [19] In the absence of fire, P. ilicifolia will outlive or outshade surrounding vegetation, making room for seedlings. Eventually, it will form extensive stands codominated by scrub oak. [5]

Ecology

The leaf shape resembles that of English holly Prunus ilicifolia leaf shape.jpg
The leaf shape resembles that of English holly
Large tree in Pismo Preserve, Pismo Beach, California Hollyleaf Pismo.jpg
Large tree in Pismo Preserve, Pismo Beach, California

Although it will resprout from the stump after fires, the seeds are not fire-adapted like those of many other chaparral plants. [20] Instead, it relies on the natural death of surrounding vegetation during long periods of fire-free conditions to make room for its seedlings. [5]

Though the seeds are often reported to require sunlight to germinate, [20] germination rates of nearly 100% have been achieved with wild-collected seed buried completely in pots with a peatlite mix. [21]

The caterpillars of the pale swallowtail ( Papilio eurymedon ) feed on this and other members of the riparian woodland plant community. [18] It is also a larval host to the California hairstreak, Lorquin's admiral, Nevada buckmoth, and western tiger swallowtail. [22] Bees are attracted to it. [4]

Cultivation

Prunus ilicifolia is used in California native plants and wildlife gardens, and drought-tolerant sustainable landscaping. [23]

Uses

The pulp of the cherry is edible. [4] However, the seeds of the hollyleaf cherry are considered to be toxic, and the plant must undergo certain leaching processes to make it safe for consumption. [24] Native Americans fermented the fruit into an intoxicating drink. [4] Some also cracked the dried cherries and made meal from the seeds after grinding and leaching them. [25] It has also been made into jam. [26]

The method of preparation for the cherry was to first extract and crush the kernel in a mortar, and the resulting powder would then be leached in order to eliminate remaining bad chemicals. The final step was to boil the leached powder into an atole. [24] Once this process was completed, Native Californians would then make soup base, tortillas, or tamale-like foods using the resulting ground meal. Other times, the kernel would be kept whole, leached to remove its hydrocyanic acid content, roasted for a couple hours, and then used to make cakes or balls. [27]

Aside from food, the hollyleaf cherry was also used for medicinal purposes by some Native Californian tribes, including the Diegueño and the Cahuilla. Specifically, infusions made from the bark and roots of hollyleaf cherry plants would be used as treatment for common colds and coughs. [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaparral</span> Shrubland plant community in western North America

Chaparral is a shrubland plant community found primarily in California, in southern Oregon and in the northern portion of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. It is shaped by a Mediterranean climate and infrequent, high-intensity crown fires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry</span> Fruit of some plants of the genus Prunus

A cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy drupe.

<i>Heteromeles</i> Genus of plants (AKA toyon; perennial shrub)

Heteromeles arbutifolia, commonly known as toyon, is a common perennial shrub native to extreme southwest Oregon, California, and the Baja California Peninsula. It is the sole species in the genus Heteromeles.

<i>Prunus serotina</i> Species of tree

Prunus serotina, commonly called black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family Rosaceae. Despite being called black cherry, it is not very closely related to the commonly cultivated cherries, such as sweet cherry, sour cherry and Japanese flowering cherries, which belong to Prunus subg. Cerasus. Instead, P. serotina belongs to Prunus subg. Padus, a subgenus also including Eurasian bird cherry and chokecherry. The species is widespread and common in North America and South America.

<i>Adenostoma fasciculatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Adenostoma fasciculatum, commonly known as chamise or greasewood, is a flowering plant native to California and Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the California chaparral ecoregion. Chamise produces a specialized lignotuber underground and at the base of the stem, known as a burl, that allow it to resprout after fire has off burned its stems. It is noted for its greasy, resinous foliage, and its status as one of California's most iconic chaparral shrubs.

<i>Frangula californica</i> Species of tree

Frangula californica is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family native to western North America. It produces edible fruits and seeds. It is commonly known as California coffeeberry and California buckthorn.

<i>Prunus andersonii</i> Species of shrub

Prunus andersonii is a species of shrub in the rose family, part of the same genus as the peach, cherry, and almond. Its common names include desert peach and desert almond. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada, where it grows in forests and scrub in desert and mountains. It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.

<i>Prunus subcordata</i> Species of tree

Prunus subcordata, known by the common names Klamath plum, Oregon plum, Pacific plum and Sierra plum, is a member of the genus Prunus, native to the western United States, especially California and Oregon.

<i>Prunus mahaleb</i> Species of cherry tree

Prunus mahaleb, the mahaleb cherry or St Lucie cherry, is a species of cherry tree. The tree is cultivated for a spice obtained from the seeds inside the cherry stones. The seeds have a fragrant smell and have a taste comparable to bitter almonds with cherry notes.

<i>Quercus dumosa</i> Species of oak tree

Quercus dumosa is a species of plant in the family Fagaceae, belonging to the white oak section of the oak genus (Quercus). This tree goes by the common names coastal sage scrub oak and Nuttall's scrub oak.

<i>Prunus fasciculata</i> Species of tree

Prunus fasciculata, also known as wild almond, desert almond, or desert peach is a spiny and woody shrub producing wild almonds, which is native to western deserts of North America.

<i>Arctostaphylos glandulosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Arctostaphylos glandulosa, with the common name Eastwood's manzanita, is a species of manzanita.

<i>Rhamnus crocea</i> Species of tree

Rhamnus crocea, the spiny redberry, is a species of plant in the family Rhamnaceae. It is native from California to northern Mexico. As of March 2024, five subspecies are recognized.

<i>Ceanothus crassifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

Ceanothus crassifolius is a species of flowering shrub known by the common name hoaryleaf ceanothus. This Ceanothus is found throughout the coastal mountain ranges of the southern half of California, and its range extends into Baja California.

<i>Ephedra californica</i> Species of seed-bearing shrub

Ephedra californica is a species of Ephedra, known by the common names California jointfir, California ephedra, desert tea, Mormon tea, and cañatillo.

<i>Prunus fremontii</i> Species of tree

Prunus fremontii is a North American species of plants in the rose family, known by the common name desert apricot. It takes its scientific name from John C. Frémont. It is found in northern and western Baja California especially, mostly Pacific and western, and the adjacent area of southern California. It also occurs in northern Baja California Sur.

<i>Ambrosia ilicifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia ilicifolia is a species of ragweed known by the common names hollyleaf burr ragweed and hollyleaf bursage.

<i>Cercocarpus betuloides</i> Species of tree

Cercocarpus betuloides is a shrub or small tree in the rose family. Its common names include mountain mahogany and birch leaf mountain mahogany The common name "mahogany" comes from the hardness and color of the wood, although the genus is not a true mahogany.

<i>Xylococcus bicolor</i> Tree or shrub from North America

Xylococcus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heather family which contains the single species Xylococcus bicolor, commonly known as the mission manzanita. It is a burl-forming, evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and smooth dark reddish bark. From December to February, white to pink urn-shaped flowers adorn the foliage, often attracting hummingbird pollinators. It is native to southern California and the Baja California Peninsula, south to the Sierra de la Giganta. There is growing concern over the future of this plant, referred to as the "queen of the elfin forest, " as it may possibly lose up to 88% of its habitat and its wild seedlings are failing to survive more than a full year.

<i>Rhamnus crocea <span style="font-style:normal;">subsp.</span> ilicifolia</i> Species of plant

Rhamnus crocea subsp. ilicifolia, synonym Rhamnus ilicifolia, is a subspecies of flowering plant in the buckthorn family, known by the common name hollyleaf redberry. It is native to western North America, where it is a common plant growing in many types of habitat, including chaparral and wooded areas, from Oregon through California, to Baja California and Arizona.

References

  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (2020). "Prunus ilicifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T64122457A152907500. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  2. ↑ The Plant List, Cerasus ilicifolia Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn
  3. ↑ Tropicos, Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D. Dietr.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Dale, Nancy (1985). Flowering Plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, Coastal & Chaparral Regions of Southern California. Santa Barbara: Capra. p. 172. ISBN   9780884962397. OCLC   12370484.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Fire Effects Information Service, USDA Forest Service: Prunus ilicifolia
  6. ↑ E.G. Gudde (1946). The Solution of the Islay Problem. California Folklore Quarterly 5 (3): 298-299 (Gudde concludes that the word "islay" originated in a Salinan word slay; Islay was the Spanish version of their word).
  7. ↑ "Prunus ilicifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt.) Walp., Holly leaved Cherry, holly leaf cherry, hollyleaf cherry
  9. ↑ SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter photos and distribution map
  10. ↑ Jan Timbrook (December 1982). "Use of Wild Cherry Pits as Food by the California Indians" (PDF). Journal of Ethnobiology. 2 (2). Santa Barbara, California: 163. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  11. ↑ Wen, Jun; Berggren, Scott T.; Lee, Chung-Hee; Ickert-Bond, Stefanie; Yi, Ting-Shuang; Yoo, Ki-Oug; Xie, Lei; Shaw, Joey; Potter, Dan (2008-04-25). "Phylogenetic inferences in Prunus (Rosaceae) using chloroplast ndhF and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 46 (3): 322–332. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1002.2008.08065 (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN   1674-4918.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Jepson Flora: Prunus ilicifolia
  13. ↑ Peattie, Donald Culross (1953). A Natural History of Western Trees. New York: Bonanza Books. p. 543.
  14. ↑ Munz, Philip A. 1973. A California flora and supplement. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  15. ↑ Conrad, C. E. (1987). Common shrubs of chaparral and associated ecosystems of southern California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-99. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
  16. ↑ Jepson Flora: Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia
  17. ↑ Jepson Flora: Prunus ilicifolia subsp. lyonii
  18. 1 2 Schoenherr, A. A. (1993). A Natural History of California. University of California Press, Berkeley.
  19. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (2008) Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg "Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia ) - - GlobalTwitcher.com". Archived from the original on 2009-07-19. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  20. 1 2 Keeley, Jon E. 1987. Role of fire in seed germination of woody taxa in California chaparral. Ecology 68(2): 434-443; cited in FEIS
  21. ↑ Mirov, N. T., & Kraebel, C. J. (1937). Collecting and propagating the seeds of California wild plants. Research Note 18: 1-27. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, California Forest and Range Experiment Station
  22. ↑ Black, Scott Hoffman (2016). Gardening for butterflies : how you can attract and protect beautiful, beneficial insects. Xerces Society. Portland, Oregon. ISBN   978-1-60469-761-2. OCLC   945564211.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  23. ↑ "A California-Friendly Guide to Native and Drought Tolerant Gardens". Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.
  24. 1 2 ethnoherbalist. "Hollyleaf cherry, a favorite shrub among early southern Californians -". www.ethnoherbalist.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  25. ↑ Whitney, Stephen (1985). Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. p.  417. ISBN   0-394-73127-1.
  26. ↑ Peattie, Donald Culross (1953). A Natural History of Western Trees. New York: Bonanza Books. p. 544.
  27. 1 2 Immel, Diana L. (January 9, 2002). "Hollyleaf Cherry" (PDF). USDA National Resources Conservation Service.
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