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Amelanchier canadensis - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Rosaceae

Habitat

Moist woods and swamps.

Associates

Distribution

Mostly restricted to coastal states. Newfoundland south to MS, inland to central NH and west central NY.

Morphology

Clumping bush or small tree to 8 m. Leaves alternate, elliptic to obovate, rounded at base, to 8 cm, finely serrate. At anthesis the leaves are densely tomentose below, still folded and less than half expanded. Racemes erect; petals 4-12 mm; pedicels 5-15 mm; ovary glabrous at summit. Fruit deep purple to black.

Notes

Flowers April to June

Wetland Indicator: Facultative Upland

The fruit of this species is edible and sweet but also bitter. Serviceberries are useful for landscaping as they provide flowers in the spring and ornamental fruit in the summer. Fall color ranges from gold to red, although the leaves tend to fall early. The smooth gray bark is also attractive.

References

Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illiois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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