Prunus nigra

9.6

A small tree from northeastern North America that loses its leaves and makes orange-red oval fruit

noun

Specialized

: ciruelo negro

The oblong fruit of the Prunus nigra is prized for making jams and jellies.

Examples

In northeastern North America, the Prunus nigra is valued for its vibrant orange-red fruit.
The Prunus nigra blooms early in the spring, producing fragrant white flowers.
Orchards in Canada often include Prunus nigra because of its hardy nature.
The Prunus nigra produces beautiful fruit in the summer.
Have you ever tasted the fruit of a Prunus nigra?
The oblong fruit of the Prunus nigra is often used to make delicious jams and jellies.
Many gardeners choose to plant Prunus nigra for its attractive fruit and beautiful spring blossoms.

Synonyms

Canada plum

vsPrunus nigra

6.6

A small tree from eastern North America that makes orange-red fruit

means the same but highlights being deciduous and valued for its fruit

Surface Forms

Prunus nigra singular

Prunus nigras plural

Morphology

Prunus + nigra

The compound follows a Latin binomial pattern: 'Prunus' identifies the genus (fruit-bearing trees/shrubs) and 'nigra'—if known as Latin for 'black'—signals a specific species (literally 'black Prunus'), so a learner who knows both parts could infer it names a particular Prunus tree. However, this is a technical scientific name and requires knowledge of Latin naming conventions and the species reference (e.g., black cherry) to recover the full, specific meaning, so comprehension is only partially predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Prunus nigra is a Latin plant name that likely describes the tree's fruit: Prunus means 'plum' and nigra means 'black'. So the name makes you picture a dark, oval plum, which explains why people value this hardy tree for its dark fruit used in jams and jellies.