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    Facts about Nanking Cherry

    By SylviaJune 21, 2021Updated:June 21, 2021No Comments9 Mins Read
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    Nanking cherry scientifically known as Prunus tomentosa is a popular shrub belonging to Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to northern and western China (including Tibet), Korea, Mongolia, and possibly northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, though probably only cultivated there) and naturalized in Japan, Russia, and other northern regions of the continent. It has become a staple back yard garden plant in Russia and much of Eastern Europe. Nanjing cherry, Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, mountain cherry, Chinese bush cherry, Chinese dwarf cherry, Mongolian cherry, Aengdo, Aengdonamu, Mao Yingtao, Maotao, Maoyingtao, Yeyingtao, Yusura ume, Luddkörsbär and Japanische Mandelkirsche are some of the popular common names of the plant.

    It is commonly called downy cherry in recognition of its downy leaves, downy stems and downy fruits. Genus name Prunus comes from Latin means plum or cherry tree. Specific epithet tomentosa means thickly matted with hairs. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, and is sold in local markets. It is occasionally cultivated as a fruit crop in Asia, and is commonly grown as an ornamental tree. Fruit is edible but of variable quality ranging from tart to sweet. Fruit may be used in pies, jams or jellies. Birds love the fruit. With proper care and maintenance, the tree can live up to 50 years. Without care, plants have supposedly lived 20 years or more.

    Nanking Cherry Facts

    Nanking cherry Quick Facts
    Name: Nanking cherry
    Scientific Name: Prunus tomentosa
    Origin Northern and western China (including Tibet), Korea, Mongolia, and possibly northern India
    Colors Pale pink to bright cherry red
    Shapes Small fruits, only 1- 2 centimeters in diameter, cherry shaped, and with a large pit inside
    Taste Sweet but slightly tart
    Health benefits Beneficial for respiration, digestion, cancer and uric acid levels in the blood
    Name Nanking cherry
    Scientific Name Prunus tomentosa
    Native Northern and western China (including Tibet), Korea, Mongolia, and possibly northern India (Jammu and Kashmir, though probably only cultivated there) and naturalized in Japan, Russia, and other northern regions of the continent. It has become a staple back yard garden plant in Russia and much of Eastern Europe
    Common Names Nanjing cherry, Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, mountain cherry, Chinese bush cherry, Chinese dwarf cherry, Mongolian cherry, Aengdo, Aengdonamu, Mao Yingtao, Maotao, Maoyingtao, Yeyingtao, Yusura ume, Luddkörsbär, Japanische Mandelkirsche, Cerisier Tomenteux
    Name in Other Languages Azerbaijani: Keçəli albalı
    Bengali: Nānakiṁ cēri (নানকিং চেরি)
    Breton: Gwez-ragoumin
    Chinese:  Mao ying tao (毛樱桃), Mei t’ao
    Croatian: Nankinška trešnja
    Danish: Mandshurisk kirsebaer
    Dutch: Viltkers
    English: Manchu bird cherry, Mandchu cherry, Manchu cherry, Nanking cherry, Korean cherry, Downy cherry, Ando cherry, Chinese bush cherry, Chinese Dwarf Cherry, Mongolian Cherry, mountain cherry, Shanghai Cherry  
    Estonian: Vilt-kirsipuu
    Finnish: Nukkakirsikka
    French: Cerisier tomenteux, Ragouminier
    German: Japanische Mandelkirsche, japanische Kirschmandel, Korea-Kirschbaum
    Japanese:   Yusura ume (ユスラウメ), Manshuu cherii,   Manshuu cherii,  Manshuu cherii, Japanische Mandelkirsche
    Korean: Aengdunamu  (앵두나무), aeng do (앵도)
    Lithuanian: Veltininė vyšnia
    Persian: گیلاس کره‌ای
    Russian:  Vishnia voilochnaia (вишня войлочная)            
    Serbian: Japanska dlakava višnja (јапанска длакава вишња)
    Swedish: Luddkörsbär
    Ukrainian: Vishnya postistina (Вишня повстиста)
    Vietnamese: Anh đào núi
    Plant Growth Habit Broadly spreading, twiggy, hardy, deciduous shrub
    Growing Climates Slopes, in ravines, Forest on mountain slopes, forest margins, thickets and meadows
    Soil Flourishes in well-drained, slightly acidic soil
    Plant Size 100 – 200 cm tall and around twice as wide. It rarely becomes more tree-like and can then grow up to 300 cm tall
    Bark Glabrous, copper-tinted black and exfoliating when mature
    Leaf Alternate, 2–7 cm long and 1–3.5 cm broad, oval to obovate, acuminate with irregularly serrate margins, rugose, dark green, pubescent above and tomentose below, with glandular petioles
    Flowering season March to April
    Flower White or pink in a scarlet calyx, opening with or before the leaves in spring. They are reliably profuse, arranged in clusters on scarlet pedicels and are 1.5–2.0 cm in diameter
    Fruit Shape & Size Small fruits, only 1- 2 centimeters in diameter, cherry shaped, and with a large pit inside
    Fruit Color Pale pink to bright cherry red skin
    Fruit Color Shiny and smooth
    Propagation By seed, softwood cuttings or root suckers
    Taste Sweet but slightly tart
    Lifespan With proper care and maintenance, they can live up to 50 years. Without care, plants have reportedly lived 20 years or more
    Season July
    Precautions
    • In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
    • In larger concentrations, however, cyanide can cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure leading to death.

    Plant Description

    Nanking cherry is a broadly spreading, twiggy, hardy, deciduous shrub that normally grows about 100 – 200 cm tall and around twice as wide. It rarely becomes more tree-like and can then grow up to 300 cm tall. The plant is found growing in slopes, in ravines, forest on mountain slopes, forest margins, thickets and meadows. The plant flourishes in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Plants grown from seed may develop a deep taproot, and are very drought tolerant after initial establishment. Bark is glabrous, copper-tinted black and exfoliating when mature.

    Leaves

    Nanking leaves are elliptical, alternate 2–7 cm long and 1–3.5 cm broad, oval to obovate, acuminate, with irregularly serrated edges alternating on stems.  They are deeply veined, and are also covered with white, downy fuzz especially on the pale underside which is the origin of one of its common names of ‘downy cherry’. It is dark green, pubescent above and tomentose below, with glandular petioles.

    Bud Arrangement Alternate
    Bud Color Brown
    Bud Size 1/8 inch
    Leaf Type and Shape Simple, elliptical
    Leaf Margins Unequally serrate
    Leaf Surface Rough-veined, pubescent
    Leaf Length 2 to 3 inches
    Leaf Width 1 to 1½ inches
    Leaf Color Medium to dark green above; white hairs below; yellow fall color

    Flowers

    These darling buds of May are one of the great pleasures of spring.  The Nanking blossoms appear in our yard around the second week of May, before the leaves have emerged. The flowers are white or pink in a scarlet calyx, opening with or before the leaves in spring. They are reliably profuse, arranged in clusters on scarlet pedicels and are 1.5–2.0 cm in diameter. Flowers are very frost tolerant.

    Flower Type Small but numerous
    Flower Color Pink in bud, becoming near white
    Fruit Type Cherry-shaped drupe
    Fruit Color Dark red

     

    Fruit

    Nanking cherry bushes need another Prunus plant to pollinate them.  In other words you’ll need to have another Nanking cherry nearby, or any type of cherry, or a plum, or an apricot, and so on.  This is currently our biggest hindrance to fruit set. 

    The clusters of fruit are nestled in among the leaves, spaced out at intervals along the branches. Nanking cherries are quite small, measuring 1- 2 centimeters in diameter (about the size of a blueberry). Their pale pink to bright cherry red skin is shiny and smooth, and the pulp is juicy. Each fruit contains one seed, much like other cherries. Nanking cherries are sweet and tart.

    Unlike the image of cherries that most of us have in our brains, Nankings are connected to the branches of the shrub by very short stalks.  They do not grow in the drooping clusters, but rather in lines up and down the length of the branches.

    Flowers-of-Nanking-cherry Flowers-of-Nanking-cherry
    Closer-view-of-flower-of-Nanking-cherry Closer-view-of-flower-of-Nanking-cherry
    Nanking-cherry-Jelly Nanking-cherry-Jelly
    Leaves-of-Nanking-cherry Leaves-of-Nanking-cherry
    Closer-view-of-fruits-of-Nanking-cherry Closer-view-of-fruits-of-Nanking-cherry
    Fruits-of-Nanking-cherry Fruits-of-Nanking-cherry
    Nanking-cherry-plant-during-flowering Nanking-cherry-plant-during-flowering
    Seeds-of-Nanking-cherry Seeds-of-Nanking-cherry
    Plant-illustration-of-Nanking-cherry Plant-illustration-of-Nanking-cherry
    Nanking cherry Image Gallery

    Health Benefits of Nanking Cherry

    Listed below are some of the health benefits of using Nanking cherry

    Promote Hair Growth

    Earlier research had found that Nanking cherry has protective action on skin tissues and its subsidiary organs. It has also shown a strong role in promoting hair growth.

    When Prunus tomentosa thumb total flavone (PTTTF) was continuously used on external local parts of phalacrosis mouse models. It was discovered that PTTTF had significantly promoted the hair growth cycle and follicle maturation. However more research is required.

    Anticancer Activity

    Research shows that phenylpropanoid sucrose esters, isolated from leaves of Nanking cherry have shown cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines tested.

    The cytotoxic activity of these isolates was stronger when compared with the positive control 5-fluorouracil used. The results also indicate these isolates might be a promising source for anti-cancer drug candidates.

    Anti-oxidant and Inhibitory Activity

    Nanking cherry seeds consist of flavonoids that are known to exhibit antioxidant activity.

    Research had also revealed that flavonoids present in the seed extract of Nanking cherry were able to exhibit Antioxidant and Inhibitory activity on Nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production.

    The DPPH radical scavenging assay had also shown that the antioxidant activity of some of the flavonoids was also higher than the positive control, Ascorbic acid.

    Works against frostbites

    Research conducted to know the effect of Prunus tomentosa thumb total flavone on frostbite had proven that, PTTTF has significant anti-frostbite effect.

    Research also said that the total flavone can inhibit the MMP9 expression in frostbite tissues and IL-1β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells to relieve the inflammation caused by frostbite.

    Traditional uses and benefits of Nanking cherry

    • In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer.
    • In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being.
    • The fruit can also help lower uric acid levels in the blood, which can result in gout.

    Culinary Uses

    • Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • The unripe fruits can be pickled.
    • Seed can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • The buds are cooked and eaten.
    • Leaves are used for pickling of vegetables and mushrooms.
    • Fruit is edible, being an ingredient of juice, jam, and wine, and in pickled vegetables and mushrooms.
    • Nanking cherries are eaten fresh or used to make pies, jams and jellies.
    • Use Nanking cherries to flavor vinegar or pickle unripe fruits.
    • Fruits are processed into wine, syrup, jellies and pies.

    Other Facts

    • A green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
    • A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
    • It is an excellent windbreak hedgerow.
    • Plants produce suckers freely.
    • Flowers are pinkish – white fragrant that attract lot of beneficial insects.
    • In Manchuria and the Midwest United States, the shrub is planted in hedgerows to provide a windbreak.
    • The plant produces fruits after 3 years when grown from seed.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=504627#null

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=30138

    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+tomentosa

    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286358

    https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=PRTO80

    http://www.narc.gov.jo/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=30138

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/44369

    https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-tomentosa/

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/PRNTO

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/rjp-3246

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_tomentosa

    https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/trees/handbook/th-3-11.pdf

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    Nanking cherry Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Prunus tomentosa

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Rosidae
    Super Order Rosanae
    Order Rosales
    Family Rosaceae (Rose family)
    Genus Prunus L. (plum)
    Species Prunus tomentosa Thunb. (Nanking cherry)
    Synonyms
    • Amygdalus tomentosa K.Koch
    • Armeniaca tomentosa (Thunb.) Hort.
    • Armeniaca trichocarpa M.Roem.
    • Cerasus tomentosa (Thunb.) Masam. & S.Suzuki
    • Cerasus tomentosa (Thunb.) Wall.
    • Cerasus tomentosa (Thunb.) Yas.Endo
    • Cerasus tomentosa Wall. ex Baker
    • Cerasus tomentosa var. pendula B.Y.Feng & S.M.Xie
    • Microcerasus tomentosa (Thunb.) Eremin & Yushev
    • Microcerasus tomentosa f. batalinii (C.K.Schneid.) Eremin & Yushev
    • Microcerasus tomentosa f. cinerascens (Franch.) Eremin & Yushev, 1979
    • Prunus batalinii (C.K.Schneid.) Koehne
    • Prunus cinerascens Franch.
    • Prunus tomentosa var. batalinii C.K.Schneid.
    • Prunus tomentosa var. breviflora Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. endotricha Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. heteromera Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. insularis Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. kashkarovii Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. souliei Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. trichocarpa (Bunge) Koehne
    • Prunus tomentosa var. tsuluensis Koehne
    • Prunus trichocarpa Bunge
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