Cherry blossom is a natural spectacle admired in various regions.
Cherry is a term that comes from the vulgar Latin ceresĕum , in turn derived from the Latin cerasĭum . This word , meanwhile, comes from the Greek kerásion .
Cherry trees are fruit trees belonging to the Rosaceae family. The group of different species of cherry trees, which have the cherry as a common fruit, constitutes a subgenus of the Prunus genus.
Characteristics of the cherry tree
Beyond the differences between cherry species, several common characteristics can be identified. Cherry trees usually have a branched trunk, lanceolate leaves and whitish flowers, for example.
The flowering of these trees takes place in corymbs . Thus, the inflorescence develops by gathering several flowers, which do not appear clustered.
Among the most highly valued qualities of cherry trees is their wood . Valued for its colour (light brown) and hardness, it is used in cabinetmaking and carpentry to make furniture.
The fruit of the cherry tree is called cherry.
The cherry, a highly appreciated fruit
As we indicated above, the fruit of the cherry tree is called a cherry . It is a drupe because its endocarp (the inner layer) is woody and has a single seed, while its mesocarp (the middle layer) is fleshy.
About two centimeters in diameter and spherical in shape, the cherry exhibits a smooth skin that protects a pulp characterized by its sweet flavor. This fruit, which is consumed raw, in sweets and in other ways, has nutrients such as potassium , calcium , iron and vitamins C , E and A.
The red colour of cherries is due to the presence of anthocyanin . This pigment is part of the group of flavonoids (a type of secondary metabolite).
Cherry ripening begins at the end of spring and continues into early summer. Compared to other fruit trees, cherry trees have a very short harvesting period.
It is worth noting that Turkey and the United States are the world's leading cherry producers. In Latin America , the ranking is headed by Chile .
Cherry Blossom Festivals
In Japan , the term sakura refers to the cherry blossom . When spring arrives and the blossoming takes place, the Japanese celebrate hanami : a festival based on the contemplation of flowers .
In this context, people have picnics in the parks , sitting in the shade of the trees. With the end of the hanami season, the academic year begins.
The Jerte Valley , in the autonomous community of Extremadura ( Spain ), hosts the El Cerezo del Flor festival. With the simultaneous blossoming of thousands of trees, white flowers come to dominate the valley's landscape, attracting tourists .
Several locations and one surname
Cerezo is the name of a municipality in the Spanish province of Cáceres ( Extremadura ). It has less than two hundred inhabitants and is notable for several historic buildings.
Also in Spanish territory we find other places such as Cerezo de Abajo and Cerezo de Arriba , in Segovia ; and Cerezo de Río Tirón , in Burgos .
The surname Cerezo , finally, is shared by public figures such as the former Brazilian footballer Antônio Carlos "Toninho" Cerezo and the Spanish film producer and sports manager Enrique Cerezo .