Prunus cerasoides (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Prunus cerasoides D. Don

Family: Rosaceae

Synonyms

• Cerasus paddum Seringe ex DC.

Vernacular names

• Wild Himalayan cherry (En)
• Laos: khai pa
• Thailand: chaweewan
• Vietnam: dinh tao.

Distribution

Himalayan region and mountainous regions of southern China, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Uses

Fruits are edible, rather acid. Fruits also used to prepare cherry brandy. Oil from the seed used in pharmacy. The wood is resistant to termites, has an attractive colour and is suitable for many purposes.

Observations

• Tree, about 8 m tall with globose or ovoid red fruit (drupe), 10-12 mm in diameter, growing in mountain forests. In Indo-China flowering is in December-January, fruiting in April-May.

Selected sources

• Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam (various authors), 1960-. Vol. 1-24. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen, J. Jukema, L.P.A. Oyen, T.G. van Lingen