Encyclopedia
of Stanford Trees, Shrubs, and VinesEncyclopedia
of Stanford Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
Catalina cherry has toothed leaves that are not prickly like those of P. ilicifolia and in fact mature leaves may be practically smooth-edged. The flowers are in long spikes as with P. ilicifolia; the fruit is a black edible cherry with large stones. The tree regenerates freely on campus, with the help of birds. Catalina cherries line the bike path from Santa Fe Avenue to Stanford Avenue and more were planted at The Oval in 2002. Named in 1911 by Harold Lloyd Lyon, a Hawaiian sugar expert, the tree was soon assigned subspecies status under P. ilicifolia with names such as integrifolia and occidentalis. Since the toothed- and smooth-leafed forms cross readily in cultivation the common names need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Illus. right: George B. Sudworth. Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope. USDA, 1907. Click for larger image.
Other campus Prunus: Prunus armeniaca | Prunus caroliniana | Prunus cerasifera | Prunus ilicifolia | Prunus laurocerasus | Prunus lusitanica | Prunus lyonii | Prunus serrulata | Prunus subhirtella | Prunus × blireiana | Prunus × yedoensis
Illustrations (links open new windows): CalPhotos
Additions/Revisions:Name derivation, genus | species
Related material: treatment in Jepson Manual Botanical
name index | Common name index | Family
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