Editing Prunus (section)

==== Traditional classification ====
Historical treatments break the genus into several different genera, but this segregation is not currently widely recognised other than at the subgeneric rank. The [[Integrated Taxonomic Information System|ITIS]] recognises just the single genus ''Prunus'', with an open list of species,{{efn|Do a search in the ITIS database on the scientific name ''Prunus'' for its current list.}} all of which are given at [[List of Prunus species]].{{efn|Other species appear, as well, which for whatever reasons are not yet in ITIS.}}

One treatment of the subgenera derives from the work of [[Alfred Rehder]] in 1940. Rehder hypothesized five subgenera: ''Amygdalus, Prunus, Cerasus, Padus'', and ''Laurocerasus''.<ref name="leewen">{{cite journal|doi=10.2307/2657135|first1=Sangtae |last1=Lee|first2=Jun |last2=Wen|title=A phylogenetic analysis of Prunus and the Amygdaloideae (Rosaceae) using ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA|journal=American Journal of Botany|year=2001|volume=88|pages=150–160|pmid=11159135|issue=1|jstor=2657135|doi-access=free}}</ref> To them C. Ingram added ''Lithocerasus''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |chapter=Stone Fruits |first=William |last=Okie |title=Encyclopedia of Fruits and Nuts |date=July 2003 |editor1-last=Janick |editor1-first=J. |editor2-last=Paulii |editor2-first=R.E. |publisher=C A B Intl |publication-date=2008}}</ref> The six subgenera are described as follows:
* Subgenus ''Amygdalus'', almonds and peaches: axillary buds in threes (vegetative bud central, two flower buds to sides); flowers in early spring, sessile or nearly so, not on leafed shoots; fruit with a groove along one side; stone deeply grooved; type species: ''[[Prunus dulcis]]'' (almond)
* [[Prunus subg. Prunus|Subgenus ''Prunus'']], plums and apricots: axillary buds solitary; flowers in early spring stalked, not on leafed shoots; fruit with a groove along one side, stone rough; type species: ''[[Prunus domestica]]'' (plum)
* [[Prunus subg. Cerasus|Subgenus ''Cerasus'']], true cherries: axillary buds single; flowers in early spring in corymbs, long-stalked, not on leafed shoots; fruit not grooved, stone smooth; type species: ''[[Prunus cerasus]]'' (sour cherry)
* [[Prunus sect. Microcerasus|Subgenus ''Lithocerasus'']], bush cherries: axillary buds in threes; flowers in early spring in corymbs, long-stalked, not on leafed shoots; fruit not grooved, stone smooth; type species: ''[[Prunus pumila]]'' (sand cherry)
* [[Prunus subg. Padus|Subgenus ''Padus'']], bird cherries: axillary buds single; flowers in late spring in racemes on leafy shoots, short-stalked; fruit not grooved, stone smooth; type species: ''[[Prunus padus]]'' (European bird cherry), now known to be polyphyletic<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Xiao-Lin |last2=Wen |first2=Jun |last3=Nie |first3=Ze-Long |last4=Johnson |first4=Gabriel |last5=Liang |first5=Zong-Suo |last6=Chang |first6=Zhao-Yang |date=14 December 2012 |title=Polyphyly of the ''Padus'' group of ''Prunus'' (Rosaceae) and the evolution of biogeographic disjunctions between eastern Asia and eastern North America |journal=Journal of Plant Research |volume=126 |issue=3 |pages=351–361 |doi=10.1007/s10265-012-0535-1 |pmid=23239308 |s2cid=5991106 }}</ref>
* [[Prunus subg. Padus#Laurocerasus|Subgenus ''Laurocerasus'']], cherry laurels: mostly evergreen (all the other subgenera are deciduous); axillary buds single; flowers in early spring in racemes, not on leafed shoots, short-stalked; fruit not grooved, stone smooth; type species: ''[[Prunus laurocerasus]]'' (European cherry-laurel)