Spotlight on the Cherry Tree
Page 1
There are two species of cherry native to Ireland. These are wild cherry, Prunus avium, also called 'gean' and bird cherry, Prunus padus. The most common is the wild cherry.
Bird Cherry
Irish: Donnroisc
Latin: Prunus padus
Wild Cherry or gean
Irish: Crann silín fiáin
Latin: Prunus avium
Leaves and Bark
Cherry trees are deciduous which means they lose their leaves in winter. The leaves are oval and pointed with serrated margins and slightly hairy beneath. For most of the year, they are green, turning orange, yellow or red before shedding in autumn.
The bark of wild cherry is reddish brown, smooth, peeling in strips and interestingly marked with horizontal lines. The bark of bird cherry is dull grey in colour and slightly roughened to the touch.
Flowers
Cherries are most easily spotted when in flower during April and May. The 5-petalled, white blossoms of the wild cherry are produced in clusters just before or at the same time as the new leaves while the creamy-white, almond-scented flowers of the bird cherry are borne in cylindrical spikes about 10cm long. The flowers of both species are rich in nectar and attractive to many pollinating insects and especially bees. The insects that pollinate bird cherry benefit from the nutrients in the flowers' nectar, while at the same time providing the essential service of pollination to the tree.
Next Page...
Bird CherryIrish: Donnroisc
Latin: Prunus padus
Wild Cherry or gean
Irish: Crann silín fiáin
Latin: Prunus avium
Cherry trees are deciduous which means they lose their leaves in winter. The leaves are oval and pointed with serrated margins and slightly hairy beneath. For most of the year, they are green, turning orange, yellow or red before shedding in autumn.
The bark of wild cherry is reddish brown, smooth, peeling in strips and interestingly marked with horizontal lines. The bark of bird cherry is dull grey in colour and slightly roughened to the touch.
Flowers
Next Page...
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness and promote global action to sustainably manage, conserve and develop all types of forests, including trees outside of forests, for the benefit of current and future generations.
This has created a wonderful opportunity for children to become more aware of Ireland's trees and forests, what they are used for and how they are managed. Forests provide shelter to people and habitat to biodiversity; are a source of food, medicine and clean water; and play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment. All of these elements taken together reinforce the message that forests are vital to the survival and well being of people everywhere, all 7 billion of us.
Click here to find out more about the International Year of Forests 2011
This has created a wonderful opportunity for children to become more aware of Ireland's trees and forests, what they are used for and how they are managed. Forests provide shelter to people and habitat to biodiversity; are a source of food, medicine and clean water; and play a vital role in maintaining a stable global climate and environment. All of these elements taken together reinforce the message that forests are vital to the survival and well being of people everywhere, all 7 billion of us.
Click here to find out more about the International Year of Forests 2011
