Prunus avium (L.) L.

Deciduous, suckering, spreading tree, 5–12–(15) m high when mature, not armed; trunk tall. Lf petiole 12–60–(70) mm long, glabrous; blade ± thin, usually obovate to broadly elliptic, sometimes narrowly obovate or orbicular, (30)–40–130–(150) × (25)–30–60–(70) mm, acute to short-acuminate at apex, obtuse at base, glabrous or glabrate above, tomentose below when young (rarely glabrate), soon glabrous, 1–2-serrate with teeth obtuse or subacute; stipules acuminate, deciduous. Fls in umbel-like clusters of (1)–2–4, on very short shoots, not fragrant, pendent; pedicels (12)–25–50 mm long, green and glabrous. Hypanthium urceolate; sepals triangular, 3–5 mm long, blunt, glabrous, usually tinged purplish, soon becoming strongly reflexed. Petals usually 5 but sometimes many in double fls, (9)–11–19 × (5)–8–17 mm, ± broadly elliptic-oblong or elliptic-obovate, shallowly emarginate, white. Stamens ± = petals; filaments whitish. Fr. 8–17 mm diam. (to c. 30 mm in cultivation), globose or nearly so, glabrous, dark red, occasionally remaining pinkish red, usually ± sweet, sometimes rather bitter; stone smooth.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.; Fruiting: Nov.–Feb.