Prunus apetala

Prunus apetala is a species of flowering cherry in the genus Prunus in the family Rosaceae. It is called clove cherry (Japanese: チョウジザクラ choujizakura), because of its clovebud-shaped calyx. It is native to Japan, centered on the main island, Honshu.^[3][4][2]

Prunus apetala
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Prunus
Subgenus:	Prunus subg. Cerasus
Section:	P. sect. Cerasus
Species:	P. apetala
Binomial name
Prunus apetala (Siebold & Zucc.) Franch. & Sav.
Synonyms[2][3]
Cerasus apetala (Sieb. & Zucc.) H.Ohba Prunus tschonoskii Koehne Ceraseidos apetala Sieb. & Zucc. Cerasus apetala f. multipetala (Kawas.) H.Ohba Cerasus apetala var. monticola T.Kawasaki & H.Koyama Cerasus apetala var. tetsuyae H.Ohba Prunus apetala f. multipetala Kawas. Prunus ceraseidos Koidz. Prunus ceraseidos Maxim. Prunus crassipes Koidz. Prunus crenata Koehne Prunus matsumurana Koehne

Description

Shrub or small tree.^[3]

• Height: To 5.5 m (18 ft).^[3]
• Leaves: Obovate leaves reach 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in length. Leaf tips are slender; leaf margins double-toothed. Petioles (leaf stalks) and upper leaf surfaces are hairy.^[3]
• Inflorescences: Flowers in May.^[3]
  • Petals: Range in color from white to pink; small, 'soon falling'.^[3]
  • Calyx: Purple.^[3]
  • Stamens: Purple.^[3]
  • Pedicels: 1.25-1.9 cm (.5-.75in) in length.^[3]
• Fruit: Black in color, roundish-oval in shape.^[3]
  • Peduncle: Peduncle (fruit stalk) ranges in length from 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1-1.5 in).^[3]

Etymology

Prunus is the ancient Latin name for plum trees. The specific epithet apetala is derived from Greek, meaning 'without petals', due to their habit of dropping off the flowers soon after they are formed.^[5]