Native chokecherry spotted thriving along Bend's Deschutes River Trail
iNaturalist: crystalplasticity
Native Plants
Chokecherry feeds birds, bears, and pollinators all along river corridors, so spotting one on a popular trail is a reminder of the wild food web running right past hikers' feet.
Someone out walking the Deschutes River Trail in Bend, Oregon spotted a chokecherry tree and logged it on iNaturalist, where other experts confirmed the identification. Chokecherry is a native shrub or small tree that produces tart, dark red fruit loved by birds, bears, and foragers who turn it into jelly and syrup. This kind of confirmed sighting helps build a real map of where native plants are actually growing, not just where botanists think they should be.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning the identification was confirmed by community consensus.
Location recorded is the Deschutes River Trail in Bend, Oregon, a riparian corridor popular with hikers.
Species identified is Prunus virginiana (chokecherry), a native North American tree valued for wildlife forage and edible fruit.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a chokecherry tree growing along the Deschutes River Trail in Bend, Oregon, adding a verified data point to our picture of where this native fruit tree thrives.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) observed in Deschutes River Trail, Bend, OR, US
Research-grade observation of chokecherry in Deschutes River Trail, Bend, OR, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry, is a species of bird cherry native to North America.