chokecherry

chokecherry
/chohk"cher'ee/, n., pl. chokecherries. Chiefly Northern U.S.
1. any of several cherries, esp. Prunus virginiana, of North America, that bear an astringent fruit.
2. the fruit itself.
[1775-85, Amer.; CHOKE + CHERRY]

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One of several varieties of shrub or small tree (Prunus virginiana) of the rose family, native to North America.

Though it is aptly named for the astringent, acidic taste of its reddish cherries, its fruit may be made into jelly and preserves. The stones and wilted foliage are poisonous. The trees often form dense thickets on moist soils. They are frequently attacked and defoliated by eastern tent caterpillars. Foul-scented white flowers are produced in hanging spikes, and the slender brown twigs also have an unpleasant odour and a bitter taste.

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▪ plant
also spelled  Choke Cherry  
 (Prunus virginiana), shrub or small tree, belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae) and native to North America. It is aptly named for the astringent, acidic taste of its reddish cherries. The fruit may, however, be made into jelly and preserves. The stones are poisonous, as is the wilted foliage, which may contain hydrocyanic acid in varying amounts.

      Chokecherry trees often form dense thickets on moist soils. They are frequently attacked and defoliated by eastern tent caterpillars. The tree grows to a height of 6 metres (20 feet), producing hanging spikes of disagreeably scented white flowers. The slender brown twigs also have an unpleasant odour and a bitter taste. The bark is brown or gray, smooth on new growth but becoming scaly with age. Several varieties are available: P. virginiana xanthocarpa, with yellow fruit; P. virginiana demissa, with fuzzy underleaf; P. virginiana melanocarpa, with black fruit.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chokecherry — Choke cher ry, n. (Bot.) The astringent fruit of a species of wild cherry ({Prunus Virginiana}); also, the bush or tree which bears such fruit. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chokecherry — ☆ chokecherry [chōkcher΄ē ] n. pl. chokecherries 1. a North American wild cherry tree (Prunus virginiana) 2. its astringent fruit: Also written choke cherry …   English World dictionary

  • Chokecherry — Taxobox name = Chokecherry image width = 250px regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Rosales familia = Rosaceae subfamilia = Prunoideae genus = Prunus subgenus = Padus species = P. virginiana binomial = Prunus… …   Wikipedia

  • chokecherry — noun 1. the fruit of the chokecherry tree • Hypernyms: ↑fruit • Part Holonyms: ↑chokecherry tree, ↑Prunus virginiana 2. a common wild cherry of eastern North America having small bitter black berries favored by birds • Syn: ↑chokech …   Useful english dictionary

  • chokecherry — noun a) Any of several American wild cherry trees, especially Prunus virginiana The youngster loved chokecherry grows both as a bushy shrub and as a tree seldom higher than 22 feet, its branches bending with clusters of darkening red or blackish… …   Wiktionary

  • Chokecherry Lake — ist der Name mehrerer Seen in den Vereinigten Staaten: Chokecherry Lake (Michigan) Chokecherry Lake (Minnesota) Chokecherry Lake (Nebraska) Chokecherry Lake (North Dakota) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • chokecherry tree — noun a common wild cherry of eastern North America having small bitter black berries favored by birds • Syn: ↑chokecherry, ↑Prunus virginiana • Hypernyms: ↑cherry, ↑cherry tree • Hyponyms: ↑western chokecherry, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • chokecherry — noun Date: 1784 a wild cherry (Prunus virginiana) of the United States and Canada having bitter or astringent red to black edible fruit; also this fruit …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • chokecherry — choke|cher|ry [ˈtʃəuktʃeri US ˈtʃouk ] n plural chokecherries a North American tree that produces small sour fruit …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chokecherry — noun (C) a North American tree that produces small sour fruit …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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