Prunus virginiana Ecology and Uses

Ecology
In the northern part of the range it grows as undergrowth in forests. Because of the many cherry fruit, it is important to the wildlife inventory of the particular ecosystem. For sheep, cattle and horses, the leaves due to the prussic acid content is toxic.

Use
For the indigenous population the Virginia cherry as vitamin-supplier was so significant that the Lakota have designated a nature calendar month of their time after ripening of these fruits: Wi = Canpá Sapa July (Cherry-black-moon). Even the date of the sun dance was at Lakota wiwányank wacípi fixed maturity of wild cherries. Because of its importance as a food it was also generally important in ceremonies, and has served as a symbol of fertility.

The English name "Chokecherry" (about "choking cherry") alludes to the difficult to remove casts, to be spat out the consumption of fresh fruit. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked compotes, jellies and jams are. In the Lakota was canpá wójapi, a kind of red fruit pudding, a traditional dish. The taste of raw fruit is sour and is reminiscent of the fruit of the blackthorn and native wild cherries. Since the fruits are very hard stone, have been dried, crushed by the Lakota and other tribes of the fruits such as raisins and the nuts. The resulting powder was used as an ingredient for the production of pemmican, in Lakota wasná.


Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginische_Traubenkirsche
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