Prunus sunhangii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prunus sunhangii |
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The Sun Hang cherry (which scientists call Prunus sunhangii) is a special kind of cherry tree. It grows naturally only in two places in China: Hunan and Hubei provinces. You can find it on rocky, limestone hillsides in the Wuling Mountains. It usually grows quite high up, between 300 and 1200 meters above sea level. This cherry tree looks a bit like another cherry called Prunus cerasoides. But even though they look similar, scientists know they are different species. The Sun Hang cherry got its name to honor a famous plant scientist named Hang Sun.
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What Makes the Sun Hang Cherry Special?
How to Spot It
Sun Hang cherry trees can grow quite tall, reaching 20 to 25 meters (about 65 to 82 feet). They look a lot like Prunus cerasoides, but there are some clear ways to tell them apart.
For example, look at their leaves. The tips of the Sun Hang cherry's leaves come to a sharp point. The other cherry's leaves also have pointed tips, but some are even longer.
Next, check the sepals. These are the small, leaf-like parts that protect the flower bud. The Sun Hang cherry's sepals have slightly toothed edges. The Prunus cerasoides sepals have smooth edges.
Flower and Fruit Differences
The petals of the Sun Hang cherry flowers are split into two parts lengthwise. The petals of Prunus cerasoides flowers have a small notch at the tip. Also, Sun Hang cherry flowers have fewer stamens (the parts that make pollen), usually 17 to 25. The other cherry flowers have more, about 32 to 34 stamens.
You can also tell them apart by their colors. All Sun Hang cherry flowers are white. However, Prunus cerasoides flowers can be white or pink. The part of the flower that holds the petals (called the hypanthium) is brown on the Sun Hang cherry. On Prunus cerasoides, it's red to dark red. When the fruits ripen, Sun Hang cherries turn black. The fruits of Prunus cerasoides are purplish-black.
Where Does the Sun Hang Cherry Grow?
The Sun Hang cherry grows in different places than Prunus cerasoides. You can only find the Sun Hang cherry in parts of Hunan and Hubei provinces. It often grows near special ancient trees called Metasequoia glyptostroboides. The more common Prunus cerasoides does not grow in these specific areas.
Is It in Danger?
The area where the Sun Hang cherry lives is very small, only about 75 square kilometers (about 29 square miles). Because it grows in such a tiny area, experts believe it is an endangered species. The IUCN (a group that tracks endangered plants and animals) considers it to be at high risk of disappearing.
