Summary
Prunus rufa, called Himalayan cherry, is a species of cherry native to Nepal and Burma. It is used as an ornamental elsewhere for its striking shiny brown bark. It has been found growing at 3,925 m (12,900 ft) above sea level in the Himalayas.[1][2]
| Prunus rufa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Subgenus: | Prunus subg. Cerasus |
| Species: | P. rufa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Prunus rufa Wall. ex Hook.f.
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description edit
Prunus rufa is a small deciduous tree reaching a height of 15–20 feet (5–6 m). Its calyx tubes are 11–15 mm long and its leaf blades are 2.8–5 cm long. The smooth bark is a shiny brown, with prominent horizontal lenticels, similar to the coppery-red bark of the Tibetan cherry, Prunus serrula and similar to but lighter than the mahogany-brown bark of Prunus himalaica. Its phenotype suggests close affinity with four other Himalayan species of Prunus; P. topkegolensis, P. harae, P. taplejungnica and P. singalilaensis.[3] Some sources consider Prunus ferruginea to be a synonym.
References edit
- ^ Schwab, N; et al. (2016). "Treeline Responsiveness to Climate Warming: Insights from a Krummholz Treeline in Rolwaling Himal, Nepal". In Singh, R.; Schickhoff, U.; Mal, S. (eds.). Climate Change, Glacier Response, and Vegetation Dynamics in the Himalaya. Springer. pp. 307–345. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28977-9_16. ISBN 978-3-319-28975-5.
- ^ "Prunus rufa Himalayan Cherry PFAF Plant Database".
- ^ Ohba, Hideaki; Akiyama, Shinobu (22 November 2010). "Four New Species of Himalayan Prunus Subgenus Cerasus (Rosaceae-Prunoideae)" (PDF). Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Ser. B, Botany. 34 (4): 133–140.
A key to distinguish the four new species and P. rufa is provided.
External links edit
- "Prunus rufa". Plants for a Future.