Bird cherry is a low tree from the genus Plum. It grows in shrubs and forests throughout our country, from the Sea of Okhotsk, and through Asia to Western Europe. In Russia, its cultivation as an ornamental plant is very common.
Description
Bird cherry is a tree or tall bush, with a height of sixty centimeters to ten meters, with an elongated dense crown. The bark of this representative of the Pink family is black and gray, matte, with white lentils. Its branches are olive or red-cherry in color.
The leaves of bird cherry tree are regular, simple. They have an ovoid-lanceolate or oblong elliptical shape, a length of three to ten centimeters. Petioles grow to one and a half meters. Stipules in bird cherry are awl-shaped, subsiding very early. But the greatest interest in considering this culture is its flowers - white, sometimes even pinkish. They are collected in drooping thick brushes reaching up to twelve centimeters long. The flowers have such a harsh aroma that it spreads throughout the district. Five petals and sepals on the peduncle, twenty stamens each.
When does bird cherry blossom?
With the advent of May, a rapid growth of herbaceous plants is observed in nature. Along with this, ubiquitous flowering sets in. It is impossible, passing by bird cherry, not to enjoy its aroma.
This representative of the Pink family is not in vain called the Queen of Spring. Cherry blossoms precede the beginning of many agricultural work. It is believed that the planting of wheat and potatoes during this period contributes to a good harvest. The flowering of bird cherry for the villagers, thus, means that it is time to sow. It has long been believed that thereby nature gives a kind of "signal" to the beginning of the grain-growing season.
The time of flowering bird cherry almost always falls on the end of April or the beginning of May. With this period, our ancestors connected two points. The first meant that nature awakened, and the second - the beginning of summer.
As a rule, cherry blossoms occur in the first week of May. However, depending on the weather, this time can move for a week in one direction or another. Therefore, it is impossible to give a reliable date for the flowering of this plant: it depends on the region in which the tree grows, on the climate and even on the variety.
How cherry blossoms
To date, more than twenty species of this representative of the Pink family are distinguished. It is interesting that its berries are literally saturated with useful elements. They contain a large amount of cobalt, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, many vitamins of group P, C and E.
The flowering period of bird cherry many connect with the time to start fishing in open water.
Popularly, this plant has many names, but the most remarkable, perhaps, is the “beautiful bride”. Flowering bird cherry - a special sight. The trees are still just letting out leaves, and here, like white explosions, the odorous buds of beautiful flowers are striking, hanging down surrounded by the first bee swarms. Having put on its elegant decoration, this tree symbolizes the transition to the hot summer season.
Varieties
The genus of bird cherry has about twenty species. In the gardens of the middle strip of our country, an ordinary variety is common, having black and astringent fruits. Often found and the Virginian variety, with red berries. The most pleasant aroma spreads when the flowering of bird cherry fragrant begins.
However, not all varieties are distinguished by this characteristic. For example, late bird cherry blossoms are not accompanied by smell. Its homeland is the forests of North America. One can guess that such a name was given to her for the late flowering period. This tree, growing up to twenty meters, has a spreading crown and cherry bark. In autumn, its leaves turn bright red and yellow.
Application
The flowers of bird cherry, as well as its fruits, are used as a urinary or choleretic agent. They are also used in the treatment of rheumatism and gout, enterocolitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, furunculosis, purulent wounds, conjunctivitis. It is believed that bird cherry helps with diarrhea of non-infectious origin, as well as in the initial stage of diabetes.
In addition, this culture is easy to grow, it grows quickly and tolerates frosts well. However, not only the early flowering time of bird cherry is its advantage. The plant has excellent decorative properties, and therefore are widely used in landscape design.
