BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Prunus emarginata | Bitter Cherry 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bitter cherry is a native, deciduous, small tree or shrub with spreading
to ascending branches [19,37,43,120].  It often forms dense thickets
[20,46,111].  It generally persists as a medium to tall shrub, 3.3 to 20
feet (1-6 m) in height [120].  With abundant moisture and deep fertile
soil, bitter cherry may reach tree height:  up to 50 feet (15 m) in some
areas [19,91,101,120].

The leaves are 0.8 to 2 inches (2-5 cm) long and 0.4 to 1.4 inches
(1-3.5 cm) wide [19,120].  The drupelike, ovoid fruit is 0.24 to 0.56
inch (6-14 mm) in diameter [43,120] and is one-seeded [120].  Roots may
spread up to 50 feet (15 m) from the parent plant, sending up
adventitious shoots along their length.  Bitter cherry has no taproot
[120].

Longevity of bitter cherry has not been fully determined.  According to
Kramer [57] and Mueggler [92,93] it is relatively short-lived (30-40
years).  Taylor and Taylor [120] described one plant 42 years old.


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Bitter cherry reproduces by seed [28,111,120].  It is pollinated by
insects and dispersed by birds and mammals [37,57,111,116].  Seed can
remain viable in soil and duff for many years [39,57,88] and can be
stored under dry conditions for up to 1 year [120].  It is surrounded by
a stony endocarp which may offer some resistance to germination but is
permeable to moisture.  Bitter cherry has embryo dormancy; an
afterripening period in the presence of oxygen and moisture is necessary
for adequate germination [37,120].  Cold stratification at 41 degrees
Fahrenheit (5 deg C) for 90 to 160 days increases germination [37,120].

Kramer [57] studied seedbank composition in closed-canopy forested sites
in central Idaho.  Bitter cherry seed was found in soil samples taken at
depths of up to 4 inches (10 cm); overall seed viability was 27 percent.

Bitter cherry reproduces vegetatively by root crown and root sprouts
[19,28,64,79,97,134].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bitter cherry is most often found in cool, moist foothill, montane, or
canyon habitats throughout its range [17,19,61,91,120].  It grows best
on moist soils with good drainage [19,99,120], but also grows in
semishaded areas and on dry, exposed hillsides [1,120].  Bitter cherry
grows best on loam and sandy loam soils but occurs on gravelly
substrates as well [42,99,120].

Elevations for bitter cherry are as follows:

                        feet           meters

Arizona             5,000-9,000     1,500-2,700     [50]
California          2,000-9,000       600-2,700     [17,19]
Idaho               3,530-8,150     1,070-2,470     [127]
Montana              2,800-5,000      840-1,650     [24,54]
Utah                      5,030           1,525     [133]
British Columbia          4,025           1,220     [120]


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Bitter cherry is a generally shade intolerant species of sparse woods,
riparian sites, and open areas where there is often evidence of past
disturbance [2,85,88,89,120].  Bitter cherry is seral following
clearcutting, broadcast burning, and cattle grazing [2,59,85,88]; plants
decline in vigor and numbers as the forest canopy closes
[57,59,89,92,113].  In northwest Washington bitter cherry occurs in
second-growth forests that are 50 to 80 years old [100].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Bitter cherry flowering dates are as follows:

Arizona              April-June     [50]
California           April-May      [19]
Idaho                early May      [99]
British Columbia     April-June     [120]

Bitter cherry fruit ripening occurs from July to September and seed
dispersal is from August through September [37].  

Related categories for Species: Prunus emarginata | Bitter Cherry