Prunus rufoides facts for kids

Prunus rufoides (also known as Prunus dielsiana) is a type of cherry tree. People sometimes call it Diel's cherry or the tawny bark cherry. In China, where it comes from, it's known as the tailed-leaf cherry.

This tree usually grows in places that are 500 to 1,400 meters (about 1,600 to 4,600 feet) above sea level. However, it can be found even higher, up to 1,800 meters (about 5,900 feet). Its fruits are a tasty snack for animals like masked palm civets. Gray snub-nosed monkeys also enjoy eating the fruits, leaves, and buds of this tree.

What Does Diel's Cherry Look Like?

Diel's cherry can grow as a shrub or a tree. It is usually 5 to 10 meters (about 16 to 33 feet) tall. The bark of the tree is a brownish-gray color.

Leaves of the Cherry Tree

The leaves of this cherry tree have a small stem called a petiole. This stem is about 0.8 to 1.7 millimeters long. The leaves themselves are shaped like an oval or a wider oval at the top. They are typically 6 to 14 centimeters (about 2.4 to 5.5 inches) long. The width of the leaves is about 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters (about 1 to 1.8 inches). The top surface of the leaves is a darker green. The underside of the leaves is covered with soft hairs, especially along the veins.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of Diel's cherry grow in small clusters. Each cluster usually has 2 to 6 flowers. The petals of these flowers can be white or pink. Each flower has many stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. There are usually 32 to 36 stamens in each flower. After the flowers bloom, they produce small, round fruits. These fruits are called drupes and are red in color. They are about 8 to 9 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.35 inches) in size.

Where Does Diel's Cherry Grow?

Diel's cherry is native to China. You can find this tree in many different provinces there. These include Anhui, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Sichuan.