Prunus cerasoides called the wild Himalayan cherry and sour cherry is a deciduous cherry tree found in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. It is of the family Rosaceae and the genus Prunus.

Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in north-central India to Southwest China, Burma, and Thailand. It grows in temperate forest from 1,200–2,400 metres (3,900–7,900 ft) in elevation.^[rx]

Prunus ceramides, commonly known as wild Himalayan cherry and sour cherry, is a deciduous cherry tree of the Prunus genus and Rosaceae (Rose family). The plant is native to East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Its range extends in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh in north-central India to Southwest China, Burma, and Thailand. It grows in temperate forests from 1,200–2,400 meters (3,900–7,900 ft.) in elevation. Some of the popular common names of the plant are Padam, Wild Himalayan Cherry, Dwarf Cherry, and bird cherry.

In India, the plant is restricted to sub-montane and montane Himalaya ranging from 1500-2400 m asl. In Garhwal Hills, it is spread plentifully in temperate zones of Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi districts. Locally it is known as ‘Panyyan’. It is adorned on all auspicious occasions by the inhabitants. People never cut the whole tree and use only its twigs in rituals as the wood is forbidden to be used as fuel. Thus it is common to observe quite old trees of Prunus cerasoides in the area. But the potential of the plant as a rich source of pollen and nectar for honey bees is not tapped adequately.

Plant Description

Wild Himalayan cherry is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows up to 30 meters (98 ft.) in height. The plant prefers light sandy, moisture-retentive, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils and needs well-drained conditions. The bark is brownish-grey, smooth and peels off in thin shining horizontal stripes exposing a shining copper-colored surface. Leaves are conduplicate in the bud, elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 3.5-8.5 cm long, apex acuminate, both surfaces are glabrous, dark glossy, shining above, finely simple or double serrate, with gland tip teeth. Petioles are 1.2-2 cm long, stipules are long and subulate.

Flowers and Fruits

Flowers are pinkish-white or crimson 1.2-2.5 cm in diameter, appearing before the leaves in umbellate fascicles and are the rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees. Pedicels are 0.5-2cm long. The calyx is bell-shaped, 5-lobed, ovate-acute; petals 5, obovate. Flowering normally takes place from October and lasts up to mid-December and is pollinated by insects. Fertile flowers are followed by ovoid fruit 1.2-1.5 cm long, about 15 mm in diameter, glabrous, shining, supported by a base of calyx tube, and containing one large seed. Fruits are initially yellow which turns to red as it ripens.

Traditional uses and benefits of using Wild Himalayan cherry

• In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer.
• Juice of the bark is applied externally to treat backaches.
• Bark paste is applied over the forehead for hemicranias and is also used as plaster for fractured bone, painful outgrowth below lounge, burn, indigestion, fever, foot and mouth diseases, and dislocations. Paste of bark is also used in wound healing.
• Amulet of bark tied in arm or waste of child for their wellbeing.
• The bark is used in the preparation of hair oil for massage.
• Paste of the bark is beneficial in neuralgia and is given to check over sweating in the body.
• Stems and branches are used for the treatment of gravel, kidney stones, asthma, thirst, leucoderma, leprosy, and vomiting.
• The stem is reported to be useful in vomiting, thirst, asthma, leprosy, and leucoderma.
• Decoction of stem bark is concentrated at low temperature and applied to cure joint pains.
• Heartwood is moderately hard, strong, aromatic, astringent, bitter, acrid, refrigerant, antipyretic, and tonic.
• It is useful in vitiated conditions of pitta, burning sensations, sprains, wounds, ulcers, leprosy, stomach troubles, seminal weakness, and skin discolorations.
• It is beneficial in hallucinations, leucoderma, erysipelas, burnings, vomiting, asthma, hiccough thirst, diarrhea, and cardiac debility.
• Fruit is astringent and digestive.
• Seed kernel is used in the treatment of stone and gravel in the kidney.
• Seeds are chewed in case of kidney stones and are also useful in bleeding disorders, burning sensations, and skin diseases.
• Smaller branches are crushed and soaked in water and taken internally to stop abortion.
• It is also beneficial in scorpion stings.
• Powered shell charcoal is used as tooth powder.
• The plant is used along with other fragrant drugs as a medicated smoking wick.
• Honey is slightly bitter in taste but medicinal in properties and used to treat eye ailments.
• The native of Punjab considers the fruits to be useful as an ascaricide.
• The bark is used in dropsy in Indochina.
• Flowers are considered diuretic and laxative.
• Seeds are used as anti-helminthic.
• Peach kernels are given for cough, blood disease, and rheumatism in Malaya and China.
• In Ayurveda, the plant is called Padmaka and is recommended for the treatment of skin diseases and said to enhance the complexion.
• Leaf extract of the plant is used in prostate and urinary disorders.
• Powder of the plant is applied in the form of paste in the treatment of skin diseases to improve the complexion of skin and to treat herpes.
• The kernel is used as a remedy for stone and gravel in the urinary bladder.
• Leaves, twigs, and bark contain a cyanogenetic substance.
• Its stem is antipyretic, refrigerant, and useful in treating vomiting, leprosy, and leucoderma.
• The bark paste is applied to contusions

Culinary uses

• Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked.
• Acid and astringent, they are only occasionally eaten raw but are more often cooked.
• A gum obtained from the trunk can be used as a substitute for gum tragacanth.
• Seed can be consumed raw or cooked.
• Ripe fruits are edible, however occasionally eaten raw due to acidic and astringent taste, but are more often cooked and used to make sauces and cherry brandy.

Other Facts

• A green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
• Dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
• Seeds are used as beads in necklaces and rosaries.
• Wood, branches, and root suckers make excellent walking sticks and umbrella crooks.
• It is used in rituals by the local inhabitants, especially in Gharwal Himalaya.
• People never cut the whole tree and use only its twigs in rituals as the wood is forbidden to be used as fuel.
• The wood of the tree is moderately hard, strong, durable, and aromatic, so used by locals in several rituals.
• Heartwood is occasionally used for buildings and making ornamental furniture.
• Leaves are used as fodder and young twigs are used as toothbrushes.
• The bark is a source of tannins.
• The tree is mainly used as a rootstock for the cultivation of cherries.
• The plant is regarded as sacred and is conserved for religious purposes.
• Flowers are a useful source of bee forage. Its pinkish-white flowers are the rich source of nectar and pollen for bees.
• The tree is used as a pioneer species in reforestation.
• Seed kernels, leaves, twigs, and bark are used medicinally.

Precautions

• In larger concentrations, however, cyanide can cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure leading to death.

References

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