Stats

Lifespan: 20-40 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Photosynthetic
Biome: Temperate forest
Range: North America
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Seeds
Defense: Toxins
Status: Common

About

Chokecherry is a native North American shrub or small tree prized for its clusters of deep red to near-black drupes — tart enough to pucker the mouth raw, yet long harvested by Indigenous peoples and settlers alike for jams, jellies, and wine. Its leaves and seeds contain amygdalin, a compound that can release hydrogen cyanide when metabolised, making it toxic to livestock in large quantities.

Life cycle

1.
seed
A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2.
sprout
A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3.
sapling
A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4.
mature
Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Species: Prunus virginiana