Can you guess what is pictured below?
The answer to last week’s mystery is black cherry, Prunus serotina, pictured below:
The wood of the black cherry tree is highly prized for its durability and beautiful reddish-brown hue. Craftsmen and furniture makers appreciate its workability and fine finish. Renowned for its straight grain and beautiful natural luster, this timber is often used to create high-quality furniture, cabinets, and intricate woodcraft.
When crushed, black cherry leaves emit a distinct almond scent.
The fruit of the black cherry is held in an elongated cluster and ripens to a purple-black color. The cherries are consumed by at least 33 species. They also serve as a source of nectar for pollinators and as a host plant for the larvae of several butterfly species. Small mammals also snack on the berries.
Tart when eaten fresh, the cherries become the star ingredient in jams, pies.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
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