Bio Diversity Park

Common Name : Wild Himalayan Cherry

Hindi Name : पन्या | Scientific Name : Prunus cerasoides
Family : Rosaceae
Uses : Right from its seeds, fruit, bark, and gums are used largely in traditional medicine for preparing several herbal formulations. The seeds are beneficial for treating kidney stones, burning sensations, bleeding disorders and skin diseases. While the infusion of its twigs strengthens the uterus, controls bleeding, and treats insect bites. The flowers are recognised for their laxative and diuretic traits. The seeds are used as anthelmintic and leaf extract of the plant is used in treating kidney disorders. The bark or the heartwood is made into a concoction, drinking this helps people suffering from excessive sweating, burning sensation of the whole body and treats fever.
Native: India
General Description:

It is a deciduous tree found in the forests of the Himalayas, from Himachal Pradesh in India to South-West China and Burma. It grows at altitudes of 1200-2400 m above sea level. It is a medium sized tree which grows up to 30 metres in height. The bark is smooth, and peels off in thin horizontal strips. The leaves are elliptic, long pointed, with toothed margin. They are short-stalked, 5-8 cm long. Its flowers in autumn and winter, with the flowers generally appearing on bare branches, or with young leaves. Flowers are pink, long-stalked, often paired or in few-flowered clusters at the end of branches. They have 5 pink, obovate petals, spreading outwards. Fruit is yellow, maturing to red, ovoid, 1.3-1.6 cm long. Flowering takes place in October-November.