What kind of fruit is a cherry?

Cherries are members of the Rosaceae family, subfamily Prunoideae. They occupy the Cerasus subgenus within Prunus, being fairly distinct from their stone fruit relatives plums, apricots, peaches, and almonds. Prunus avium L. is the Sweet Cherry, and Prunus cerasus L. the Sour, Pie, or Tart Cherry.

The name ‘cherry’, often as the compound term ‘cherry tree’, may also be applied to many other members of the genus Prunus, or to all members of the genus as a collective term. The fruits of many of these are not cherries, and have other common names, including plum, apricot, peach, and others. The name ‘cherry’ is also frequently used in reference to cherry blossom.