What is the cherry blossom? For a fruit to bear, there must first be a flower. Now, everyone should understand: it is the precursor to the cherry fruit. Everyone knows that the cherry fruit is beautifully shaped, so it's likely that the cherry blossom is no less beautiful. After all, such a beautiful flower would produce such a delicate fruit. Now, let's learn more about the cherry blossom.
The blooming period of the cherry blossom is generally from March to April each year, lasting for about 30 days. The flowers, 3 to 6 in number, form umbel or raceme inflorescences. They are 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters in diameter and bloom before the leaves appear. The flower stalk is about 1.5 centimeters long and covered with short, soft hairs. The calyx tube is cylindrical and also covered with short, soft hairs. The sepals are ovate or oblong-triangular and reflex after the flower blooms. The petals are white. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, a sea of white flowers is a spectacular sight.
After the cherry blossom, the cherries we normally eat develop. When ripe, cherries are a vibrant red, exquisite and translucent in form, delicious and delicate in taste, and rich in nutrients. They have high medicinal and health value and are also known by the alias "hantao". In the fruit family, cherries have the highest iron content, with up to 59 milligrams of iron per 100 grams. Their vitamin A content is 4 to 5 times higher than that of grapes, apples, and oranges. Furthermore, cherries also contain vitamins B and C, as well as mineral elements like calcium and phosphorus. Traditional Chinese medicine extensively records the medicinal value of cherries: "Cherries are sweet, astringent, and neutral in nature. They can regulate the middle jiao and replenish qi. Eating them can beautify the complexion and improve the spirit." Additionally, they are effective for treating physical weakness, greatly replenishing vital energy, and moisturizing the skin.
There are many medicinal formulas involving cherries: In ancient times, cherries were placed in a jar, sealed off from the air, and buried underground. After a year, they were taken out and had turned into a liquid. When measles was prevalent, giving this liquid to children could prevent infection. For tinea, mashing cherries to extract the juice and applying it to the affected area showed significant therapeutic effects. Cherry juice has a unique effect on burns. Squeezing cherry juice and frequently applying it to the burn area can immediately relieve pain, prevent suppuration and wound infection, and alleviate suffering. The medicinal value of the cherry pit should not be underestimated either. For goiter, applying a paste of cherry pits ground with vinegar to the affected area can have a certain alleviating and therapeutic effect.