Prunus dictyoneura facts for kids

Prunus dictyoneura (Chinese: 毛叶欧李) is a type of small cherry bush. It grows in several provinces in China, including Gansu, Hebei, and Henan. This plant likes to live in grassy areas on hillsides. You can find it at different heights, from 400 to 1600 meters (about 1,300 to 5,200 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, it can even grow as high as 2,300 meters (about 7,500 feet)! Scientists have studied its DNA. They found that its closest plant relative is Prunus humilis.

What Does This Plant Look Like?

Prunus dictyoneura is a shrub that usually grows between 0.3 and 1 meter tall. It can sometimes reach up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) in height.

Branches and Leaves

The bark on its small branches is brownish-gray. Young branches are covered in soft, fine hairs. The winter buds, which are like tiny plant embryos, are oval-shaped and very fuzzy.

The leaves are shaped like an oval that is wider at the top. They are about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) wide. They are also 2 to 4 centimeters (0.8 to 1.6 inches) long. The bottom part of the leaf is wedge-shaped. The edges of the leaves have small, sharp teeth, sometimes even double teeth. The tips of the leaves can be rounded or pointed.

Each leaf has 5 to 8 main veins on each side of the middle vein. You can also see a clear network of smaller veins. The underside of the leaves is light green and covered in dense brown hairs. The top side is dark green and can be smooth or slightly hairy. It often feels a bit crinkly.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Prunus dictyoneura grow in small clusters. Each cluster has one to three flowers. The flower stems are 4 to 8 centimeters (1.6 to 3 inches) long and are very hairy.

The cup-shaped part of the flower (called the hypanthium) is about 3 millimeters (0.1 inch) wide and tall. It is also hairy on the outside. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the flower bud, are oval and pointed.

The petals are white to pink and shaped like an upside-down oval. Each flower has many stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. There are usually 30 to 35 stamens per flower. The style, which is the part that receives pollen, is almost as long as the stamens.

The fruit is a round, red berry-like fruit called a drupe when it is ripe. The flowers bloom before the leaves appear, usually from April to May. The fruits ripen later, from July to September, depending on how warm it is in that area.

How Is This Plant Used?

Prunus dictyoneura is sometimes grown by people. It is used for traditional medicinal purposes.