Fruit and Seeds pt. 2

This is part 2 in a series exploring fruit and seeds, an leaves as well I guess, of different summer fruits which might be found in some scat of common birds and mammals in my area.
I realized there is no common scale on the first post of 4 plants, so I am using a canadian coin for scale (25¢ quater, 23.88 mm D).

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Habitat of plant : Mixed thickets, trail sides, dryer exposed sites as well as river banks, edges of woods and swamps, railroad embankments

When is fruit ripe : Late July - September

Size of seed : ~5 mm in diameter, though not perfectly round.

General description of seed : Similar to a popcorn kernel, but slightly rounder and slightly larger.

Notes : Fruit is a drupe, as in the seed is contained within a hard shell surrounded by a fleshy exterior. Seeds, twigs and leaves contain building block compounds of hydrogen cyanide which is poison for many species including humans. Many small mammals will hoard and store P. virginiana seeds, allowing compounds to deteriorate over time before consumption. Photo with bare seed and dessicated fruit taken in January.

Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Habitat of plant : Low damp ground, along river banks, open damp woods, edges of marshes, ditches, along roadsides

When is fruit ripe : Late July - September

Size of seed : ~5 mm D

General description of seed : Squat round seed with stripes running along the long axis of the seed from the rounder top to a narrow point at one end.

Notes : Red-osier Dogwood berries are consumed by a variety of small mammals and birds, while twigs are browsed in winter by rabbits and deer. I have included a photo of Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) scat composed of Red-Osier Dogwood fruit and seeds.

Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternafolia)

Habitat of plant : Thickets, open woods, hillsides, ravine slopes.

When is fruit ripe : August.

Size of seed : 5-7 mm.

General description of seed : Rounded seed, with veiny looking ridges. When dry reminiscent of a Walnut.

Notes : 3-4 seeds per berry-like drupe.

Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Habitat of plant : Dry and moist habitats. Road sides, open fields, fence rows and thickets; also on slopes of ravines, and rocky woods.

When is fruit ripe : August-September, but may remain on shrub into the winter.

Size of seed : ~5 mm.

General description of seed : Rounded at base, tapering towards top with slight ridge along one side.

Notes : 3-4 seeds per berry-like drupe. Fruit used medicinally as a powerful purgative.

If you want to see all of the previous entries check out the links below:

Part 1 : Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tartarica), Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus var.)

Part 2 : Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternafolia), Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Part 3 : Grape (Vitis spp.), Swamp (Silky) Dogwood (Cornus obliqua), Starry False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum stellatum), Nannyberry (Vibernum lentago)

Part 4 : Spikenard (Aralia racemosa), Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus vitaceae)

Part 5 : Black Currant (Ribes nigrum), Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)