The flowering of cherry trees is a natural spectacle admired in various regions.
Cherry tree is a term that comes from the Vulgar Latin ceresĕum , in turn derived from the Latin cerasĭum . This word , meanwhile, comes from the Greek kerasion .
Cherry trees are fruit trees that belong to the Rosaceae family group. The set of different species of cherry trees, which have the cherry as their fruit in common, constitutes a subgenus of the genus Prunus .
Cherry tree characteristics
Beyond the differences between cherry tree species, several shared characteristics can be named at a general level. Cherry trees usually have a branchy trunk, lanceolate leaves and whitish flowers, for example.
The flowering of these trees takes place in corymbs . In this way, the inflorescence develops by gathering several flowers, which do not appear clustered.
Among the most valued aspects of cherry trees is their wood . Esteemed for its tone (light chestnut) and its hardness, it is used in the field of 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 cherry . It is a drupe since 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 color of cherries is due to the presence of anthocyanin . This pigment is part of the group of flavonoids (a type of secondary metabolite).
The ripening of cherries begins when the end of spring approaches, extending until the first part of summer. Compared to other fruit trees, the cherry tree has a very short fruit harvesting period.
It should be noted that Turkey and the United States are the world's main cherry producers. In Latin America , the ranking is headed by Chile .
Festivities linked to the cherry tree
In Japan , the term sakura refers to the cherry blossom tree . When spring arrives and flowering takes place, the Japanese celebrate hanami : a festival based on the contemplation of flowers .
In this context, people have picnics in parks , sitting in the shade of trees. With the end of the hanami season, the academic year begins.
Valle del Jerte , in the autonomous community of Extremadura ( Spain ), hosts the El Cerezo del Flor festival. With the simultaneous flowering of thousands of trees, the white flowers begin to dominate the valley landscape, attracting tourism .
Several locations and a surname
Cerezo is the name of a municipality that makes up the Spanish province of Cáceres ( Extremadura ). It has less than two hundred inhabitants and is notable for several historical 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 soccer player Antônio Carlos "Toninho" Cerezo and the Spanish film producer and sports leader Enrique Cerezo .