ï~~2002
THE MICHIGAN BOTANIST
13
THE BIG TREES OF MICHIGAN
27. Prunus pensylvanica L.f.
Pin Cherry
Kenneth M. Hiser & Elwood B. Ehrle
Department of Biological Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
The largest known Pin Cherry in Michigan is located in Fischer's Woods, 2.5
miles north of the city of Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo County) in the southwestern
portion of the Lower Peninsula.
Description of the Species: The Pin Cherry is a member of the rose family,
Rosaceae, and is characterized by having showy, insect-pollinated, perfect flowers. Within this family, five tree genera are native to Michigan. The genus
Prunus, with seven species native to Michigan, is distinguished by having drupes ("stone" fruits) and often paired glands at the base of the leaf blade (Voss
1985).
The drupes of the Pin Cherry are bright red and borne in umbels. The leaves
are alternate with oblong-lanceolate blades having finely serrate margins (with
incurved teeth), tapering to a sharp tip (see Fig. 1). The bark of its twigs is light
reddish-brown, thin, smooth (often peeling), with prominent, widely-spaced orange lenticels. Flowers generally appear in late spring, and are distinctly perigynous, with five white petals. The Pin Cherry is characteristically a fast-growing,
short-lived "nurse tree" found in open, upland areas. It is usually associated with
Populus species and pines and gives way to other hardwoods.
Location of Michigan's Big Tree: The tree can be located by taking Kalamazoo
Avenue west from downtown Kalamazoo to its end at Douglas Avenue. Take
Douglas Avenue north 2.5 miles to the Hi-Lo Bar on the right side of the road.
Just beyond the Hi-Lo is a paved private drive on the left side of the road. If you
have obtained permission, follow the drive to the Fischer residence. There is a
trail from the house through the woods past the tennis court. Near the top of a rise,
the tree can be seen about twenty feet into the woods off the right side of the trail.
Description of Michigan's Big Tree: The tree is healthy, with a solid single
trunk, measured at 48" (122 cm) in circumference four and a half feet above the
ground [Diameter=15" (38 cm)]. Its crown spread was measured at 22' (6.75 m),
which is relatively small, probably due to the competition of many nearby trees.
The tree is 95' (29 m) tall.
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
If you would like to join us in extending this series of articles by visiting and
describing one or more of Michigan's Big Trees, please contact Elwood B. Ehrle
for help with locations, specifications for taking measurements, and assistance
