Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Common Chokecherry Prunus virginiana L. A native deciduous, thicket forming, pioneer to mid seral species is characteristically fast growing, tolerant of harsh climatic extremes and occupies a variety of soil types (4). An important species for wildlife and mine restoration projects (2, 4). Horticultural manipulation has allowed its’ cultivation as an ornamental species (4). There are two varieties of Prunus virginiana, according to Hitchcock (1), var. melanocarpa and var. demissa. Botanists are divided on accepting the varieties or allowing them to exist as distinct species (P. demissa and P. melanocarpa). Common chokecherry is also refered to as western chokecherry (var. demissa) and black chokecherry (var. melanocarpa). SYN: P. virginiana var. demissa, P. v. var. melanocarpa, P. demissa, and P. melanocarpa Plant Characteristics VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS Form and Stature: Often a widespread shrub or small tree with numerous slender branches attached to a crooked, smooth, dark reddish brown or grayish brown trunk. Size varies from 1-6 m (3-19.5 ft). In the Great Basin this species can reach 12m (40 ft) with a trunk diameter of 20 cm (8 in). (2, 6) Leaves and Stems: Thin, broadly oval, 2.58.9 cm (1-3.5 in) long, firm but not leathery leaves tapering at both ends with sharply toothed edges; dull green above and greenish below (1, 6). Varieties melanocarpa and demissa have leaves that are glabrous with pubescence on the veins and axis or beneath, respectively (1). Inflorescence: Produces an abundance of attractive white saucer shaped flowers, 5.1-10.2 cm (2-4 in) long and 1.3 cm (0.5 in) broad, in long clusters resembling tiny bottle cleaners propped up by leafy branchlets, characterized by a strong, sweet almond like fragrance (2, 6, 7). Fruits, bore in drupes, are shiny, red to purple to black, edible but pungent cherries (6). Some ecotypes have yellow berries rather than the traditional dark red or black (4). Roots: Establishing at the nodes, the deep fibrous root system and rhizomatous network, may extend up to 10.6 m (35 ft) laterally and 1.8 m (6 ft) vertically (2). The diameter of the rhizomes range from 1 to 2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) thick. GENERAL HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS Soil Types and Conditions: Grows well in a variety of soil types from Entisols to Mollisols and textures of silt to sandy loams (2, 8). Establishes on acidic to moderately alkaline soils. In green ash/chokecherry communities, the pH for fine textured soils ranges from 6.0-7.6. Moisture/Temperature Requirements: Matures at low to moderate elevations in areas of accumulated moisture, riparian zones, wooded draws, steep ravines, open areas, fence lines, roadsides, rocky outcroppings, grasslands and open forests on warm aspects (2, 4, 6). In the Northern Great Plains, chokecherry is found in shallow to moderately deep soils with an annual rainfall of 91.4 cm (36 in) (3). Prunus virginiana has the ability to withstand colder temperatures than its’more southern counterparts. Tolerance of colder temperatures is based on enhanced ice nucleations of the bud axis and scales (3). Management Considerations UTILIZATION Forage and Palatability: Domestic cattle and sheep eat chokecherry but it’s browsed heaviest by sheep. Leaves and bark contain prussic acid, none of which is toxic until it is ground and mixed with digestive juices. Prussic acid acts similar to hydrocyanide. Consuming 1/4lbs or 1 1/2-lbs will kill a domestic sheep or 500-lb cow, respectively. The forage must be consumed during one feeding otherwise the prussic acid is essentially harmless. Fortunately livestock do not over consume this species unless no other palatable forage is available. (2, 7) Wildlife Use: Highly regarded as an important wildlife forage also providing habitat, watershed protection, and species diversity. Browsed by pronghorn, elk, moose, bears, coyotes, and big horn sheep. Deer relish the young shoots. Chokecherry provides cover for many avian species and many other wild and domestic ungulates. Fruits are important as fodder for birds. (2, 7) PLANTING Growth Season and Seedling Establishment: Leaves appear in spring to early summer, flowering 1-3 weeks later. Fruits are produced in late summer to fall. Juvenile annual growth in the Northern Great Plains is quite variable, 13-28 in per year, showing high survival rates (4). Nursery grown seedlings require a competition free firm seedbed with at least 38 cm (15 in) or annual precipitation (2). Propagation: Reproduces from seeds, rhizome cuttings, or layering (2, 4). The seeds need scarification to break the hardy endocarp ensuring the best germination results. Seeds are immediately dormant and require a ripening period in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Mammal and avian regurgitation or defecation will scarify the endocarp and leave a microclimate for seed germination. Viable seeds will persist in the soil bank for long periods until conditions are optimum for germination. DISTURBANCE Response to Competition: Newly established seedlings need 2-3 years free from competition for best development. Excised rhizomes about 11 years old will resprout faster than Gambel’s Oak rhizomes (2). Chokecherry is a host to several insects and diseases (4). Response to Grazing: Resprouts after release from grazing. This species isn’t overly consumed otherwise heavy use may result in livestock death. Shearing of Prunus virginiana will cause the species to slow down apical growth by 15-28%. Common Chokecherry Prunus virginiana L. Sources: 1. Hitchcock, C. Leo and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 730p. 2. Johnson, Kathleen A. 2000. Prunus virginiana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2005, May 5]. 3. Kader, Sorkel A. and Edward L. Proebsting. 1992. Freezing behavior of Prunus subgenus Padus, Flower buds. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 117(6):955-960. 4. Kundson, Micheal J. et al. 1990. Improvement of Chokecherry, Silver Buffaloberry, and Hawthorn for conservation use in the Northern plains. In: Stream flow data for undisturbed forested watersheds in Central Idaho. General Technical report INT272. 291-299. 5. Morber, Brian E. and Kiyoko Miyanishi. 1995. Post-fire regeneration of black cherry and chokecherry in a Southern Ontario Oak Savanna. In: Proceedings: Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park management. General Tech Report. INTGTR-320. 234-236. 6. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe and Dennis Lloyd (ed.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. 464p. 7. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook. Washington, DC. 532p. 8. Voorhees, Marguerite E. and D.E. Uresk. 1992. Relating soil chemistry and plant relationships, in wooded draws of the Northern Great Plains. Great Basin Naturalist 52(1): 35-40. Response to Fire: Well adapted to fire by resprouting from root crowns or rhizomes (2). Fire can increase stem density. Post spring burn and autumn wildfire shoot responses for Prunus virginiana varied from 1-15 per plant. Heat from the fire scarifies the seeds, positively affecting germination. (5) Response to Drought: Probably does well in periodic drought situations based on its locations on drier sites. Prepared by OSU Rangeland Ecology and Management, April 2005.