A small tree, generally to 30 feet, with a broadly rounded crown. Bark red to gray-brown, tight but somewhat rough, with prominant horizontal lenticels, often peels. Twig medium textured, gray-brown, buds reddish brown, spur shoots present (spurs with multiple terminal buds), with a mild bitter almond taste. Leaves alternate, 2 to 5 inches long, oval to obovate, serrate margins, obvious darkened glands on petiole, generally with less than 8 pairs of veins. Flowers white, 5 petals, 3 to 5 per cluster, appearing in mid-spring. Fruits sweet, dark red to black, 1/2 to 1 inch across, may be clustered on spur shoots; matures early to mid summer.

Astringent, bitter and febrifuge (bark); analgesic, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, astringent, diuretic, hematonic, pectoral, sedative, tonic (berry)

Plants For A Future

Allantoin (stem); alpha-linolenic acid, acetic acid, alpha-tocopherol, arginine, ascorbic acid, asparagine, aspartic acid, benzaldehyde, beta-carotene, chlorogenic acid, citric acid, cyanidin, folacin, fumaric acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, genistein, genistin, glucuronic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, HCN, isochlorogenic acid, isovaleric acid, lactic acid, leucine, leucocyanidin, linoleic acid, mannitol, myristic acid, naringenin, neo-chlorogenic acid, niacin, o-cresol, octanoic acid, oleanolic acid, oleic acid, p-coumaric acid, palmitoleic acid, pantothenic acid, phenylalanine, pipecolic acid, prunetin, quercetin, quinic acid, riboflavin, shikimic acid, sorbitol, stearic acid, succinic acid, tartaric acid, thiamin, threonine, tyrosine, ursolic acid, valine (fruit); malic acid (fruit juice); palmitic acid (fruit and seed); prunasin (seed); amygdalin (leaf); apigenin, beta ionone, beta sitosterol, caffeic acid, chrysin, coumarin, decan-1-al, dihydrocoumarin, epicatechin, eugenol, eugenol methyl ether, ferulic acid, fraxinol, gallic acid, hyperoside, kaempferide, kaempferol, methyl salicylate, p-cresol, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, quercitrin, rutin, squalene, stigmasterol, taxifolin, vanillic acid (plant); tannin (bark)

An infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of fevers, coughs and colds. The root bark has been used as a wash for old sores and ulcers. The berries are useful for treating arthrosis, biliousness, colon cancer, cardiopathy, childbirth, chill, cold, coughs, diarrhea, dyspepsia, enterosis, fever, gastrosis, gout, high blood pressur, high cholesterol, inflammation, insomnia, jaundice, laryngosis, measles, nervousness, sores, thrush, ulcers and water retention.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 684, CRC Press July 2002.