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    Home»Fruits»Facts about Wild Himalayan cherry
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    Facts about Wild Himalayan cherry

    By SylviaJune 9, 2019Updated:June 9, 2019No Comments6 Mins Read
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    Prunus cerasoides, commonly known as wild Himalayan cherry and sour cherry, is a deciduous cherry tree of Prunus genus and Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in north-central India, to Southwest China, Burma and Thailand. It grows in temperate forest from 1,200–2,400 meters (3,900–7,900 ft.) in elevation. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Padam, Wild Himalayan Cherry, Dwarf Cherry and bird cherry.

    In India the plant is restricted to sub-montane and montane Himalaya ranging from 1500-2400 m asl. In Garhwal Hills it is spread plentifully in temperate zones of Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts. Locally it is known as ‘Panyyan’. It is adored in all auspicious occasions by the inhabitants. People never cut the whole tree and use only its twigs in rituals as the wood are forbidden to be used as fuel. Thus it is common to observe quite old trees of Prunus cerasoides in the area. But the potential of the plant as rich source of pollen and nectar for honey bees is not tapped adequately.

    Plant Description

    Wild Himalayan cherry is a medium sized deciduous tree that grows up to 30 meters (98 ft.) in height. The plant prefers light sandy, moisture-retentive, medium loamy and heavy clay soils and needs well drained condition. Bark is brownish-grey, smooth and peels off in thin shining horizontal stripes exposing a shining copper colored surface. Leaves are conduplicate in bud, elliptic or ovate lanceolate, 3.5-8.5 cm long, apex acuminate, both surfaces are glabrous, dark glossy, shining above, finely simple or double serrate, with gland tip teeth. Petioles are 1.2-2 cm long, stipules are long and subulate.

    Flowers and Fruits

    Flowers are pinkish white or crimson 1.2-2.5 cm in diameter, appearing before the leaves in umbellate fascicles and are the rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees. Pedicels are 0.5-2cm long. Calyx is bell shaped, 5-lobed, ovate-acute; petals 5, obovate. Flowering normally takes place from October and lasts up to mid-December and is pollinated by Insect. Fertile flowers are followed by ovoid fruit 1.2-1.5 cm long, about 15 mm in diameter, glabrous, shining, supported by base of calyx tube and contain one large seed. Fruits are initially yellow which turns to red as it ripens.

    Wild Himalayan cherry Image Gallery
    Bark-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Bark-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Branch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Branch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Flowering-bunch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Flowering-bunch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Flower-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Flower-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Immature-fruit-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Immature-fruit-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Leaves-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Leaves-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Mature-fruits-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Mature-fruits-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Sketch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry Sketch-of-Wild-Himalayan-cherry
    Wild-Himalayan-cherry-plants Wild-Himalayan-cherry-plants
    Traditional uses and benefits of using Wild Himalayan 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.
    • Juice of the bark is applied externally to treat backaches.
    • Bark paste is applied over the forehead for hemicranias and is also used as plaster for fractured bone, painful outgrowth below lounge, burn, indigestion, fever, foot and mouth diseases and dislocations. Paste of bark also used in wound healing.
    • Amulet of bark tied in arm or waste of child for their wellbeing.
    • Bark is used in the preparation of hair oil for massage.
    • Paste of the bark is beneficial in neuralgia and is given to check over sweating in the body.
    • Stems and branches are used for the treatment of gravel, kidney stones, asthma, thirst, leucoderma, leprosy and vomiting.
    • Stem is reported to be useful in vomiting, thirst, asthma, leprosy and leucoderma.
    • Decoction of stem bark is concentrated at low temperature and applied to cure joint pains.
    • Heartwood is moderately hard, strong, aromatic, astringent, bitter, acrid, refrigerant, antipyretic and tonic.
    • It is useful in vitiated conditions of pitta, burning sensations, sprains, wounds, ulcers, leprosy, stomach troubles, seminal weakness and skin discolorations.
    • It is beneficial in hallucinations, leucoderma, erysipelas, burnings, vomiting, asthma, hiccough thirst, diarrhea and cardiac debility.
    • Fruit is astringent, and digestive.
    • Seed kernel is used in the treatment of stone and gravel in the kidney.
    • Seed are chewed in case of kidney stone and also useful in bleeding disorders, burning sensation and skin diseases.
    • Smaller branches are crushed and soaked in water and taken internally to stop abortion.
    • It is also beneficial in scorpion stings.
    • Powered shell charcoal is used as tooth powder.
    • Plant is used in along with other fragrant drugs as a medicated smoking wick.
    • Honey is slightly bitter in taste but medicinal in properties and used to treat eye ailments.
    • The native of the Punjab considers the fruits to be useful as an ascaricide.
    • Bark is used in dropsy in Indochina.
    • Flowers are considered diuretic and laxative.
    • Seeds are used as anti-helmintic.
    • Peach kernels are given for cough, blood disease and rheumatism in Malaya and China.
    • In Ayurveda, the plant is called as Padmaka and is recommended for the treatment of skin diseases and said to enhance the complexion.
    • Leaf extract of the plant is used in prostate and urinary disorder.
    • Powder of the plant is applied in the form of paste in the treatment of skin diseases to improve the complexion of skin and to treat herpes.
    • Kernel is used as a remedy for stone and gravel in urinary bladder.
    • Leaves, twigs and bark contain a cyanogenetic substance.
    • Its stem is antipyretic, refrigerant and useful in treating vomiting, leprosy and leucoderma.
    • The bark paste is applied on contusions

    Culinary uses

    • Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • Acid and astringent, they are only occasionally eaten raw but are more often cooked.
    • Gum obtained from the trunk, can be used as a substitute for gum tragacanth.
    • Seed can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • Ripe fruits are edible, however occasionally eaten raw due to acidic and astringent taste, but are more often cooked and used to make sauces and cherry brandy.

    Other Facts

    • Green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
    • Dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
    • Seeds are used as beads in necklaces and rosaries.
    • Wood, branches and root suckers make excellent walking sticks and umbrella crooks.
    • It is used in rituals by the local inhabitants, especially in Gharwal Himalaya.
    • People never cut the whole tree and use only its twigs in rituals as the wood are forbidden to be used as fuel.
    • Wood of the tree is moderately hard, strong, durable and aromatic, so used by locals in several rituals.
    • Heartwood is occasionally used for buildings and making ornamental furniture.
    • Leaves are used as fodder and young twigs are used as toothbrush.
    • The bark is a source of tannins.
    • Tree is mainly used as rootstock for cultivation of cherries.
    • The plant is regarded as sacred and is conserved for religious purposes.
    • Flowers are useful source of bee-forage. Its pinkish-white flowers are the rich source of nectar and pollen for bees.
    • Tree is used as a pioneer species in reforestation.
    • Seed kernels, leaves, twigs and bark are used medicinally.

    Precautions

    • In larger concentrations, however, cyanide can cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure leading to death.

    References:

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

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

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/rjp-8103

    https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/264816

    https://sites.google.com/site/efloraofindia/species/m—z/r/rosaceae/prunus/prunus-cerasoides

    http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Wild%20Himalayan%20Cherry.html

    http://tn-grin.nat.tn/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=29865

    http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Prunus+cerasoides

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

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=29865

    https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Wild_Himalayan_Cherry.html

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    Wild Himalayan Cherry Facts

    Wild Himalayan cherry Quick Facts
    Name: Wild Himalayan cherry
    Scientific Name: Prunus cerasoides
    Origin East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia
    Colors Initially yellow turns red as it ripens
    Shapes Ovoid fruit 1.2-1.5 cm long, about 15 mm in diameter, glabrous, shining, supported by base of calyx tube
    Taste Astringent
    Health benefits Beneficial for backaches, hemicranias, fractured bone, painful outgrowth below lounge, burn, indigestion, leucoderma, leprosy, erysipelas, burnings, vomiting, asthma, hiccough thirst, diarrhea and cardiac debility
    Name Wild Himalayan cherry
    Scientific Name Prunus cerasoides
    Native East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in north-central India, to Southwest China, Burma and Thailand
    Common Names Padam, Wild Himalayan Cherry, Dwarf Cherry, bird cherry
    Name in Other Languages Assamese : Dieng-soh-iong-kerm
    Bengali : Padmak, Padmakashtha
    Chinese:  Gao pen ying tao,  Yun nan ou li
    English: Wild Himalayan cherry, Sour Cherry, bird cherry
    German: Himalaja-Kirschbaum
    Gujarati: Padmakathi, Padmaka nu lakadu,
    Padmakashtha, Padmak
    Hindi : Padam (पदम), Paddam, Phaya, Padmakashtha, Padmak, paija, payon
    Japanese: Himarayazakura (ヒマラヤザクラ)
    Kannada: Padmaka
    Khasi : Dieng Kaditusoo
    Laotian: Khai pa
    Malayalam : Pathumukham, patimukam
    Marathi : Padmaka, Padmakastha, padmakaashta
    Mizo : Tlaizawng, Tlaizowng
    Nepali:  Painyu (पैयुँ)
    Persian: گیلاس خودروی هیمالیایی
    Punjabi: Paajaa
    Russian: Vishnya vishneobraznaya (Вишня вишнеобразная)
    Sanskrit: Charu, Hima, Kaidara, Kedaraja, Malaya, Maleya, Padmagandhi, Padmaka (पद्मक)
    Tamil: Patumugam
    Telugu : Padmakala
    Thai: Chaweewan, Sākura meụ̄xng thịy (ซากุระเมืองไทย), Nāngphỵā s̄eụ̄x khor̀ng (นางพญาเสือโคร่ง)
    Turkish: Himalaya yabani kirazı
    Plant Growth Habit Medium sized deciduous tree
    Soil Prefers light sandy, moisture-retentive, medium loamy and heavy clay soils and requires well drained condition
    Plant Size Up to 30 meters (98 ft.) in height
    Bark Brownish-grey, smooth and peels off in a thin shining horizontal stripes exposing a shining copper colored surface
    Leaf Conduplicate in bud, elliptic or ovate lanceolate, 3.5-8.5 cm, apex acuminate, both surfaces glabrous, dark glossy, shining above, finely simple or double serrate, with gland tip teeth; petioles 1.2-2 cm long; stipules long, subulate
    Flowering season October and lasts up to mid-December
    Flower Pinkish white or crimson 1.2-2.5 cm in diameter, appearing before the leaves in umbellate fascicles and are the rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees; pedicels 0.5-2cm long. Calyx is bell shaped, 5-lobed, ovate-acute; petals 5, obovate
    Pollination By Insect
    Fruit Shape & Size Ovoid fruit 1.2-1.5 cm long, about 15 mm in diameter, glabrous, shining, supported by base of calyx tube and contain one large seed
    Fruit Color Initially yellow turn red as it ripens
    Propagation By seed. It can also propagated through air layering and stem cutting
    Taste Astringent
    Plant Parts Used Fruit, seed, bark, Gum, heart wood
    Season February to November

    Wild Himalayan cherry Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Prunus cerasoides

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Subdivision Spermatophytina (Spermatophyes)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Rosidae
    Superorder Rosidae
    Order Rosales
    Family Rosaceae (Rose family)
    Sub family Amygdaloideae
    Genus Prunus
    Sub Genus Cerasus
    Species P. cerasoides D. Don
    Synonyms
    • Cerasus carmesina (H.Hara) H.Ohba
    • Cerasus cerasoides (D.Don) S.Ya.Sokolov
    • Cerasus cerasoides (D.Don) Tsitsvidze & Matinyan
    • Cerasus cerasoides var. rubea (Ingram) T.T.Yu & C.L.Li
    • Cerasus majestica (Koehne) H.Ohba
    • Cerasus pectinata Spach
    • Cerasus phoshia Buch.-Ham.
    • Cerasus phoshia Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don
    • Cerasus puddum Roxb.
    • Cerasus puddum Roxb. ex DC.
    • Cerasus puddum Ser.
    • Cerasus puddum Wall.
    • Maddenia pedicellata Hook.fil.
    • Microcerasus pectinata M.Roem.
    • Microcerasus phoshia M.Roem.
    • Prunus carmesina Hara
    • Prunus cerasoides var. cerasoides
    • Prunus cerasoides var. majestica (Koehne) Ingram
    • Prunus cerasoides var. rubea Ingram
    • Prunus cerasoides var. tibetica (Batalin) C.K.Schneider
    • Prunus hosseusii Diels
    • Prunus majestica Koehne
    • Prunus pectinata Walp.
    • Prunus puddum Franch.
    • Prunus puddum Roxb.
    • Prunus puddum Roxb. ex Brandis
    • Prunus puddum Roxb. ex Wall.
    • Prunus silvatica Roxb.
    • Prunus sylvatica Hook.fil.
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