Prunus perulata (Chinese: 宿鳞稠李) is a species of bird cherry native to Sichuan and Yunnan in China, preferring to grow at 2400–3200m. It is a tree typically 6–12m tall. Its flowers are borne on a raceme, quite small, with dull white to creamy-yellow petals.[1] Its closest relative is Prunus buergeriana, from which it is morphologically and genetically distinct.[2]
Ecology
Its fruit are consumed by the endangered Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, Rhinopithecus bieti.[3] It is a forest gap specialist, taking advantage of treefalls to establish at the shadier edges of gaps.[4][5]
References
^"unk". Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. 17–18: 206, 268. 1900.
^Liu, Xiao-Lin; Wen, Jun; Nie, Ze-Long; Johnson, Gabriel; Liang, Zong-Suo; Chang, Zhao-Yang (14 December 2012). "Polyphyly of the Padus group of Prunus (Rosaceae) and the evolution of biogeographic disjunctions between eastern Asia and eastern North America". Journal of Plant Research. 126 (3): 351–361. doi:10.1007/s10265-012-0535-1. PMID23239308. S2CID5991106.
^Ding, Wei; Zhao, Qi-Kun (June 2004). "Rhinopithecus bieti at Tacheng, Yunnan: Diet and Daytime Activities". International Journal of Primatology. 25 (3): 583–598. doi:10.1023/B:IJOP.0000023576.60883.e5. S2CID36806323.