Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise |
Holly-leaved Cherry Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifoliaA member of the subfamily Amygdaloideae= Prunoideae, characterized by having fleshy fruit with a central seed surrounded by a hard, stone-like coat (drupe). Fruits of the genus Prunus typically contain poisonous hydrocyanic (prussic) acid (HCN) in the pits and foliage. A long-lived 8 to 30 ft. evergreen shrub, common on dry slopes in chaparral and oak woodland of the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). Flowers from Mar-May. Native Americans fermented the fruit into an intoxicating drink. The only native species of Prunus in Orange County. Back to Rosaceae of Orange County, California |
El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 3-22-07. © Peter J. Bryant |
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Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise |
The 1-2 in. alternate holly-like leaves are shiny, thick, coarsely spiny-toothed, with margins irregularly curled. Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise |
Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise |
Developing fruits. San Joan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise |
Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise |
Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise |
Developing fruits. Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise |
Mature fruit. The red drupe consists of a large stone with a thin fleshy coating which ripens in early autumn and is attractive to some birds and mammals (Clarke). Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange, CA. 7-27-08. © Joan Avise |
El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, CA. 7-23-15. © Peter J. Bryant |
With nest. El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, CA. 7-23-15. © Peter J. Bryant |
Associated Insects | |
Larval Foodplant for Pale Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon |