Prunus apetala facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prunus apetala
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Prunus
Species:	apetala
Synonyms
Cerasus apetala (Sieb. & Zucc.) H.Ohba Prunus tschonoskii Koehne Ceraseidos apetala Sieb. & Zucc. Cerasus apetala f. multipetala (Kawas.) H.Ohba</ Cerasus apetala var. monticola T.Kawasaki & H.Koyama Cerasus apetala var. tetsuyae H.Ohba Prunus apetala f. multipetala Kawas. Prunus ceraseidos Koidz. Prunus ceraseidos Maxim. Prunus crassipes Koidz. Prunus crenata Koehne Prunus matsumurana Koehne

Prunus apetala is a type of flowering cherry tree. It belongs to the Prunus family, which includes plums and almonds. People often call it the clove cherry because its calyx (the green parts that protect the flower bud) looks like a clove bud. This special cherry tree grows naturally in Japan, mostly on the main island of Honshu.

About the Clove Cherry

The clove cherry is a small tree or a large bush. It can grow up to 5.5 meters (about 18 feet) tall.

Leaves and Flowers

• Its leaves are shaped like an upside-down egg, usually 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long.
• The tips of the leaves are thin and pointed.
• The edges of the leaves have small, double-pointed teeth.
• The leaf stalks (called petioles) and the top of the leaves are covered in tiny hairs.
• The tree usually blooms in May.
• The flowers can be white or pink. They are small and tend to fall off quickly after they open.
• The calyx (the outer part of the flower bud) is purple.
• The stamens (the parts that make pollen) are also purple.
• The flower stalks (called pedicels) are about 1.25 to 1.9 centimeters (0.5 to 0.75 inches) long.

Fruit

• The fruit of the clove cherry is black and shaped like a roundish-oval.
• The stalk that holds the fruit (called a peduncle) is about 2.5 to 3.8 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) long.

What's in a Name?

The name Prunus apetala has an interesting meaning.

• Prunus is an old Latin word that was used for plum trees.
• The second part of the name, apetala, comes from Greek. It means 'without petals'. This is because the petals of the clove cherry flowers fall off very soon after the flowers form.