Prunus padus Bird Cherry

A tall, attractive, deciduous shrub or small tree which produces floriferous, fragrant racemes of white flowers in late spring along with its leaves. It is a common species in northern Europe and much of western and northern Britain particularly in hedgerows, woodland and shady rocky places but also streamsids and fen, with a preference for base-rich, calcareous soils. The fruit is eaten by birds which are important as seed dispersal agents but it also suckers vigorously and forms thickets. Although it is native in Britain it is also widely planted along roads and in amenity planting schemes so that it is often difficult to distinguish between native and naturalised populations. The origin of at least some of the non-native stock is likely to be of northern European provenance. It has a scattered distribution in West Glamorgan, but its status here is unclear. It is likely to be native in parts of the upper Vale of Neath and perhaps in some parts of Gower. Like other cherry species, Bird Cherry contains cyanogenic glycosides that become hydrolysed to form extremely toxic hydrogen cyanide when the leaves are crushed. Other bioavtive compounds that have been found in Bird Cherry include tocopherols, polyphenols and terpenes and the anti-oxidant and anti-inflamatory properties of these phytochemicals have been the subject of pharmacological studies.

Native (but also planted extensively)