Cherry

Fruit Trees of the Cold

Fruit trees are common throughout the world, often found in areas where the temperature is warm, the soil is fertile, and the seasons are mild throughout the year. But this does not stand true for all fruit trees, as there is one that chooses to thrive on the edge of the Neither Tundra, the cold winters being the key to succulent fruit throughout the warmer months. Across the northern parts of the Elven Forest and Cradle of Clay, hearty trees with delicate blossoms grow in thick groves, laden with delicious fruit in certain months.

Cherry trees prefer the changing seasons, budding early in the spring when winter has passed, and producing a bright red fruit with a tart flavor. Without the cold of winter, the buds do not form, and the tree does not bear fruit, unlike the various fruit trees that are common throughout the Little Greenwood. This is one of the few fruits that is available easily in the north without trading with the warmer areas of the world.

— Appendix C of the Yllvalion Codex, Flora & Fauna of the Elven Forest

Cherry trees are a common fruit tree found in the northern areas of the Cradle of Clay and the Elven Forest. Known for their soft blossoms, tart fruit, and love of the colder months, these fruit trees thrive in areas where a rather large temperature drop in the winter months occurs to break the dormancy cycle and allow the tree to thrive and bear fruit. Their growing season is short, but the fruit and wood of these trees are coveted for a number of reasons.

Basic Information

Delicate Blossoms

White Petaled Flowers by Phil Hauser on Unsplash

Cherry trees are also known for their delicate blossoms that can range in color from white to a bright pink. These blossoms denote that fruit will soon be coming and are often the first markers of summer.

Growth Rate & Stages

The growing season for cherries is short, with the trees often blossoming near the Summer Solstice and bearing fruit in the few months of summer. After the fruit has ripened, the tree goes into a dormant state throughout the fall and into the winter. The temperature drops of winter and the slow warming into spring pull the tree out of this dormant state and begin the cycle of blossoming and producing fruit again. Without this temperature cycle, the tree never truly enters or leaves the dormant state, not allowing the tree to bear fruit.

Ecology and Habitat

Cherry trees require winter, allowing them to grow across the majority of the Northern Continent and parts of the Southern Continent. Commonly found in the Elven Forest and the Cradle of Clay, specifically along the border of the Neither Tundra, these trees thrive in groves where they are not smothered by the proximity of other trees; this is why cherry trees can be found scattered throughout the Elven Forest, but they do not thrive where the Aelinor Oaks and other trees keep them from sunlight.
The Great Plains, Great Furnaces, and the Little Greenwood are too temperate for these trees to thrive, as either the temperatures

are too warm or humid, other trees keep cherry trees from thriving, or there are a number of other factors that keep these trees from growing in these areas. That being said, cherry trees are very prominent in the areas they do grow, making access to the fruit and wood easy for those outside of their growing area.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Both the wood and fruit of cherry trees are commonly used throughout the world. Various types of cherry trees grow along the border of the Neither Tundra, with different variations being used for different things. Those trees that grow in the Elven Forest are known for producing a tart fruit as well as a soft, reddish wood that is good for carving and decoration. Some of the fruit is exported across the Northern Continent, but the wood from these trees is more commonly traded with craftsmen for different projects.
The cherry trees of the Cradle of Clay are sweeter and larger, better for snacking or use in cooking. Most of the fruit is exported across the Northern Continent, with some being traded to the Zóni and parts of the Southern Continent with the help of Coastland. Because of the sweetness and size of this fruit, it is commonly canned or turned into jams and jellies. The wood of these trees may be added to the silage fed to the livestock of the Clay Giants.

Cherries

Cherries by Kevin on Unsplash

Cherry trees produce a succulent red fruit that can be either tart or sweet, depending on the variety of tree. These trees are commonly found where the winters are cold, allowing the tree to produce fruit.

Scientific Name

Prunus Cerasus

Lifespan

10 to 60 years

Average Height

10 - 30 ft

Geographic Distribution

• Cradle of Clay
• Elven Forest
• Forest of Mytos

Branches

While not a use of Cherry trees themselves, the most common depiction of Cherry trees appears on Branches, the currency of the Elven Kingdom. A Cherry tree is used to denote the second-lowest-value currency, Silver, with an elaborate depiction of a tree in bloom.