Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured in photo #1?
The answer to last week’s mystery is the black cherry, Prunus serotina, pictured in photo #2.
The black cherry, Prunus serotina, also known as wild black cherry or rum cherry, is the largest and most commercially important native cherry in North America. Found from southeastern Canada through the eastern United States and into eastern Texas, this widespread tree thrives in a variety of soils, avoiding only the very wettest or driest conditions. In spring, it produces drooping clusters of small white flowers after its glossy leaves have emerged, filling the air with a faint, cherry-like scent.
As the season progresses, its fruit ripens from dark red to deep black between August and October. Though somewhat bitter, the fruit is edible and commonly used in jellies, wines, and flavorings—giving rise to the name “rum cherry.” Wildlife depend heavily on these fruits, which serve as an important food source for birds, deer, turkeys, and small mammals. The tree also supports butterflies and other insects, making it an ecologically valuable species.
Despite its benefits, caution is needed: the leaves, bark, and twigs contain cyanogenic compounds that can release toxic cyanide, especially when wilted. Livestock that consume wilted foliage can become seriously ill, though deer can safely browse fresh leaves. When grown in open areas, black cherry develops a broad, arching crown, while forest-grown trees tend to be tall and straight—another example of this species’ adaptability across the landscape.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
