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Prunus leveilleana facts for kids

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Prunus leveilleana
Prunus verecunda1.jpg
The bark of P. leveilleana
Scientific classification
Genus:
Prunus
Species:
leveilleana
Synonyms
  • Cerasus leveilleana (Koehne) H. Ohba
  • Prunus jamasakura Siebold ex Koidz. var. verecunda Koidz.
  • Prunus sargentii Rehder var. verecunda (Koidz.) Chin S. Chang
  • Prunus serrulata Lindl. var. pubescens (Makino) Nakai
  • Prunus verecunda (Koidz.) Koehne

Prunus leveilleana is a beautiful tree that grows naturally in Korea and Japan. It's known for its stunning leaves that turn reddish-brown or bright red in the autumn. When spring arrives, this tree bursts into bloom with lovely yellow-white flowers.

Special Plant Chemicals

Scientists have studied Prunus leveilleana and found some interesting natural chemicals inside it. These chemicals are called flavonoids. They are special compounds that plants make, and they can sometimes give plants their color or help protect them.

Discovering Flavonoids

On September 6, 1956, researchers discovered several new types of flavonoids in this tree. Some of these included pinocembrin-5-glucoside, geinstein, prunetin, and pinocembrin. Finding these compounds helps scientists understand more about how plants work and what makes each species unique.

Where It Grows

This tree is native to middle Japan. It grows commonly in the mountainous regions there. This means you'll often find Prunus leveilleana thriving on hills and in higher areas across central Japan.

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