Stats

Lifespan

50-100+ yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Mediterranean forest

Range

Southwestern Europe

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

This evergreen shrub grows in the humid forests of Iberia and Macaronesia. Its dark leaves contain cyanide compounds that release a bitter scent when crushed.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Rosales

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Prunus

Species

Prunus lusitanica