Prunus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Prunoideae Genus: Prunus
Species
Prunus alabamensis Prunus alleghaniensis Prunus americana Prunus andersonii Prunus angustifolia Prunus armeniaca Prunus avium Prunus caroliniana Prunus cerasifera Prunus cerasus Prunus domestica Prunus dulcis Prunus emarginata Prunus fasciculata Prunus fremontii Prunus fruticosa Prunus geniculata Prunus glandulosa Prunus gracilis Prunus havardii Prunus hortulana Prunus ilicifolia Prunus japonica Prunus laurocerasus Prunus lusitanica Prunus mahaleb Prunus maritima Prunus mexicana Prunus minutiflora Prunus mume Prunus munsoniana Prunus murrayana Prunus myrtifolia Prunus nigra Prunus occidentalis Prunus padus Prunus pensylvanica Prunus persica Prunus pleuradenia Prunus pumula Prunus rivularis Prunus salicina Prunus serotina Prunus serrulata Prunus spinosa Prunus subcordata Prunus subhirtella Prunus tenella Prunus texana Prunus tomentosa Prunus triloba Prunus umbellata Prunus virginiana

Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs traditionally placed within the rose family, (Family Rosaceae), but now often placed in its own family, the Prunaceae (or Amygdalaceae), or in a subfamily of Rosaceae, Prunoideae (or Amygdaloideae). There are several hundred species, spread throughout the northern temperate regions. The related almonds were once included in the genus Prunus, but are now included in genus Amygdalus, also classified in the Prunaceae.

The Prunus genus includes the cherry, plum, peach, and apricot, all of which have cultivars developed for fruit. There are also a number of species, hybrids, and cultivars grown for ornament, including their flowers, leaves, and in some cases their bark. These ornamentals include the group that may be collectively called the flowering cherries.

The flowers are usually white to pink, with five petals and five calyx-lobes. They are usually borne in umbels or racemes. The fruit of all Prunus species is a drupe with a relatively large pit. Leaves are simple and usually lanceolate, unlobed and toothed along the margin.

ITIS recognises the list of species shown at the right. Because of their value as food and ornamental plants, many Prunus species have been introduced to parts of the world to which they are not native.

Prunus species native to the Old World include:

• Prunus armeniaca -- the apricot. Central Asia to China.
• Prunus avium -- the wild cherry, also called the gean, mazzard, or sweet cherry, and the parent of most of the edible cherries. Europe to West Asia.
• Prunus cerasifera -- Myrobalan. Origin uncertain.
• Prunus domestica -- the plum and damson. Believed to be a hybrid, probably from West Asia and the Caucasus.
• Prunus incisa -- the Fuji cherry. Japan.
• Prunus laurocerasus -- the cherry laurel, of the Balkans and West Asia.
• Prunus lusitanica -- Portugal Laurel. From Iberia.
• Prunus mahaleb -- St. Lucie cherry, or Mahaleb cherry. Europe.
• Prunus padus -- the Bird Cherry. Northern Eurasia.
• Prunus persica -- the peach, origin uncertain, probably West Asia.
• Prunus serrula -- sometimes called the Tibetan cherry. Western China to central Asia.
• Prunus serrulata -- Eastern Asia.
• Prunus simonii -- Apricot Plum, from northern China.
• Prunus spinosa -- blackthorn or sloe. Europe, North Africa, West Asia.
• Prunus subhirtella -- origin uncertain, but probably East Asia.

Prunus species native to North America:

• Prunus allegheniensis -- Allegheny plum, in the Appalachian belt
• Prunus americana -- wild plum, most of the U.S. east of the Great Plains and southernmost Canada
• Prunus angustifolia -- Chickasaw plum, southeast U.S.
• Prunus hortulana -- Hortulan plum, mostly Missouri and Illinois and surrounding areas
• Prunus maritima -- beach plum, northeast Atlantic coast
• Prunus mexicana -- bigtree plum, southeast Great Plains
• Prunus munsoniana -- wild-goose plum, mostly Missouri and eastern Kansas and surrounding areas
• Prunus nigra -- Canada plum, southeasternmost Canada west to Manitoba and northeasternmost U.S.
• Prunus pensylvanica -- pin cherry, southern half of Canada and northernmost U.S.
• Prunus pumila -- sand cherry, southeast and south-central Canada and northern U.S. west to Wyoming
• Prunus serotina -- wild black cherry, southeasternmost Canada and most of U.S. east of Great Plains, also found in Arizona and Guatemala
• Prunus virginiana -- chokecherry, southern Canada and most of eastern U.S. except for deep south

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