Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-11, страница 76

by Wes Demurest

Cherry

iWgSSH WmL

mm if ; '^ffii

I ■'■■ » fSr

The bark is scaly, red brown in color and will show a red under-bark jn mature specimens. It is distinctive (which aids in identification) even though it changes somewhat over its growth cycle and in young specimens additional keys maybe required. The undcr-bark has medicinal properties and is used in cough remedies and sedatives.

There arc a number of species of cherry, some with overlapping ranges. This means that, as noted, in their young stages identification can be confusing; however, none of them attain the size of black cherry.

■ ....."

The photos above illustrate the differences in the bark configurations of fire cherry (left) and choke cherry (right).

Pictured here are fire cherry (Primus pensylvanica), also called Pin cherry in some areas, and choke cherry (Primus virginiana), which closely resembles black cherry. Both of these are shrubs and small tree species that occasionally grow 10" 10 12" DBIT. They can be milled, but the log is usually too short and crooked for the commercial market.

JrL""ir"i'rtiMii -.........-~±rmm..........................hi

fcAdSraf-flhapsfr..'.,.....miMfflfi^MMm?. • ^aii|t' MI'IW-

Black cherry (Primus serotina; also known as rum cherry, wild cherry, wild black cherry, and mountain black cherry) has a wide range that extends from Nova Scotia across southern Quebec and Ontario, south to Texas and across to Florida, and one or two variants that are found in southern Texas and down the length of Mcxico. It also has a wide tolerance for climactic, soil, and topographic conditions, with the best specimens found on fertile, well-drained sites that are cool and moist. Mature trees of this species found today will range from 60' to 80' tall with a DBH (diameter at breast, height) up to 36". whereas old-growth trees could be found in excess of 100' tall and 5' DBH.

About the only places cherry will not grow are in swampy and very dry locations; however, specimens grown on wet (not swampy) sites will not set deep roots and arc subject to wind-throw. This tree is not shade tolerant and sprouts from stumps or seeds die out if they do not receive sufficient light.

Cherry leaves bear similar resemblance to other trees in the Prunus family, namely wild plums and peach. The black cherry leaves, besides being long, narrow, and pointed with fine inwardly curving teeth, have a prominently fuzzy midrib on the bottom of the leaf with white to brown hairs.

76 • Creative Woodworks S. Crafts November 2004

prunasin, a naturally occurring toxin that contains cyanide. In fact, I remember on the farm as a youth we were very diligent when it came to removing them and fencing in the peach orchards. Deer and, to a certain extent, livestock can eat green leaves and stems, but the cyanide is released when they will and at that point presents considerable danger, causing sickness and death.