Prunus cerasus L.

Deciduous, suckering, rounded tree, 4–6–(10) m high when mature, not armed; trunk short; primary branches ascending; secondary branches spreading, sometimes pendulous. Lf petiole 12–30–(40) mm long, glabrous; blade ± thin, obovate to broadly elliptic, 40–120 × 25–50 mm, short-acuminate or cuspidate at apex, broadly cuneate to rounded at base, glabrous or with a few long hairs above, glabrous below or occasionally with a few hairs at base of lateral veins, 1–2-serrate with teeth blunt (sometimes with a short dark cusp); stipules triangular, acuminate, early deciduous. Fls in umbel-like clusters of (1)–2–4, on very short shoots, not fragrant, pendent; pedicels 10–20 mm long, glabrous. Hypanthium broadly campanulate; sepals triangular, 3–5 mm long, blunt, glabrous and greenish purple, becoming reflexed. Petals 5, spreading, orbicular, 8–12 mm diam., very shallowly emarginate, white. Stamens ± = to petals; filaments whitish. Fr. 10–17 mm diam., globose, glabrous, dark red, sour; stone smooth.

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

Flowering: Oct.–Nov.; Fruiting: Dec.–Jan.