Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.

Family: ROSACEAE

Genus: Prunus

Catalan common name: Prunera de fulla roja. Prunera de jardí.

Spanish common name: Ciruelo de Pissard. Ciruelo mirobolano. Ciruelo-cerezo. Mirobolano. Pisardi.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Iranian-Tunisian

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated species. Garden plants. Gardens.

Description: A deciduous tree that grows to 6-7 m in height, with open and ascending foliage. Bark is smooth and dark. Leaves are alternate, simple or elliptic, 2-7 cm in length. Margin in serrate with a pointed and hairless apex, with the exception of the central nerve on the reverse. Green coloured leaves that turn the colour of wine in the fall. Flowers are generally solitary, 2-2.5 cm in diameter, white to rose in colour. Flowers emerge before the leaves. The fruit is drupe and reddish-yellowish, sphere shaped and hairless, measures some 2.5 cm in diameter and matures during the summer.

Observations: The variety most common to the home garden is Pisardii. It is normally used as the rootstock for the grafting of other prune varieties.