Iran's wild cherry plant anchors rural economy in Kermanshah

KERMANSHAH, Iran — A wild plant known locally as "Bilaluk" or wild cherry, which grows on the rocky slopes of the Zagros Mountains in western Iran's Kermanshah province, has long been used by local communities in traditional medicine and daily life, local officials said. The plant, scientifically known as Prunus incana, reaches up to two meters in height and thrives in shallow, stony soils, typically supported by oak and mastic trees, according to Behzad Rastami, head of pasture affairs at the Kermanshah General Natural Resources and Watershed Management Council. Rastami said the plant's fruits change color from green to yellow, then red and finally black after its white flowers bloom in late spring, with the taste shifting from sour to sweet. Huoshang Zenkenh, the council's technical assistant, added that the plant produces fruit for 25 to 35 years and shows strong tolerance to drought and cold, aided by a waxy layer on its leaves that reduces water loss. Zenkenh noted that local residents mix the fruit and its seeds with butter to treat stomach ulcers and intestinal problems, while brewing the plant with chamomile and cornflower has traditionally been used to relieve kidney and bladder inflammation. Officials warned that uncontrolled harvesting is threatening the species' natural population and called for conservation measures, local processing facilities and support for standardized beverage production.