Amelanchier ovalis

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Amelanchier ovalis
Amelanchier ovalis01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Amelanchier
Species:
A. ovalis
Binomial name
Amelanchier ovalis
Synonyms [1]
Synonymy
  • Amelanchier amelanchierH.Karst.
  • Amelanchier amelanchier(L.) Degen
  • Amelanchier amelanchier(L.) Voss
  • Amelanchier rotundifolia(Lam.) Dum.Cours.
  • Amelanchier rotundifolia (Lam.) K.Koch
  • Amelanchier rupestrisBluff & Fingerh.
  • Amelanchier vulgarisMoench
  • Amelancus ovalisVollm.
  • Aronia amelanchier(L.) Rchb.
  • Aronia amelanchierDumort.
  • Aronia rotundifolia(Lam.) Pers.
  • Aronia rupestris(Bluff & Fingerh.) Rehder
  • Crataegus amelanchier(L.) Desf.
  • Crataegus rotundifoliaLam.
  • Mespilus amelanchierL.
  • Prunus amelanchier(L.) P.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.
  • Pyrenia amelanchierClairv.
  • Pyrus amelanchier(L.) L.f.
  • Pyrus amelanchier(L.) Du Roi
  • Sorbus amelanchier(L.) Crantz

Amelanchier ovalis, commonly known as snowy mespilus [2] (a name which is also attached to the related A. lamarckii ) or serviceberry, is a deciduous shrub in the family Rosaceae. Its pome fruits are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The species is native to central and southern Europe, as well as North Africa and the Middle East. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Description

There are 25 species of the genus Amelanchier reported from the northern hemisphere, and A. ovalis is the only naturally occurring species of that genus within Europe. [6] A wide morphological variability has been reported for the flowers and leaves. [7] There are two subspecies which can be distinguished by the number of chromosomes:

Amelanchier ovalis is a thornless, summer-green shrub with an irregular spreading growth. [9] It reaches heights of 3 m (9.8 ft), rarely 5 m (16 ft). The branches are slim and tightly erect in younger growing stages, becoming extended afterwards.

Young shoots are thin and white-haired, older shoots are olive or reddish-brown. The buds have felted hairs which is typical for this species. [10] The leaves are round or egg-shaped and reach a length of 2 to 5 cm. The top side of the leaves is bald, the underside initially is hairy, but this is lost throughout the growing season. [11] The white flowers, which are herbaceous, develop lateral and terminal from previous years branches between April and May. The flowers build 3 to 8 erect inflorescences at the end of the shoots. [12]

Flowers AMELANCHIER OVALIS - SANT JUST - IB-121 (Corner).JPG
Flowers

The fruits are small (1 cm) and spherical, ripening between July and August. When ripe, the fruits become black and contain only a small amount of flesh. [6]

Fruits Amelanchier ovalis3.JPG
Fruits

Distribution and habitat

Amelanchier ovalis can be found in prealpine and submediterranean climates reaching from colline to sub-alpine zones. [13] The most southern place with recorded plants is in Morocco, the most eastern place is in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. Plants have been observed in the Valais in Switzerland at an elevation of 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and in the Atlas Mountains at 2,800 m (9,200 ft). [7]

A. ovalis prefers sunny, dry steep slopes, light oak and pine forests and semi-dry grasslands. It grows well in south-facing positions, on rocks with calcareous substrates. [7]

Ecology

Amelanchier ovalis grows in areas which are characterized by moderately dry alternating with moist conditions. It is drought resistant, and is for this reason an indicator species for dry conditions. Soil pH ranges from neutral to alkaline (pH 5.5 - 8.5). [11] Therefore, plants are found on limy grounds. [12]

Due to its pioneer features, Amelanchier ovalis is able to establish on nutrient poor and stony substrates, and can stabilize soils. For this reason, this species is used for land restoration, afforestation or reconstruction of habitats. [14]

Amelanchier ovalis is an important food source for different insect species providing nectar. The plants are dependent on insect pollination, because self-pollination is inhibited by early ripening of stamens. [12]

In a higher phenological stage of the plant, when plants have built ripe fruits, they are often eaten by birds or mammals. [12] Through that, seeds of A. ovalis are dispersed by these animals. Depending on the location A.ovalis can propagate vegetatively via root shoots. [12]

Pathology

Gall mites of the genus Eriophyes and Aceria cause damage to buds and calyxes by gall formation on leaves. A. ovalis can also suffer from browsing by game and grazing livestock. [12] By contrast, the spotted wing drosophila ( Drosophila suzukii ) does not infest the fruit of the snowy mespilus. [15]

A. ovalis can be infested by various species of rust fungi (e.g. Gymnosporangium amelanchieris), and consequently serves as a host plant. Leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits can be affected. In most cases, the damage is insignificant, and the rust fungus does not threaten the survival of the shrub. However, depending on the type of infestation, fruit set may be reduced. A. ovalis is also a host plant of the fire blight pathogen Erwinia amylovora and is highly susceptible to it. In extreme cases, infection with fire blight can even lead to the death of the shrub. [12] In very dry years, a weak powdery mildew infestation could be observed. [15]

Uses

Amelanchier ovalis can be used for land restoration and afforestation, thanks to its pioneer features. [16] The berries can be eaten fresh, although they taste rather bland. More often they are processed for jam, compote or spirits. [12] [15] Extracts from twigs, leaves and bark can be used for medicinal purposes, due to their richness in biologically active substances, such as polyphenols. [17] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maloideae</span> Subfamily of flowering plants

The MaloideaeC.Weber was the apple subfamily, a grouping used by some taxonomists within the rose family, Rosaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic evidence has shown that the traditional Spiraeoideae and Amygdaloideae form part of the same clade as the traditional Maloideae, and the correct name for this group is Amygdaloideae. Earlier circumscriptions of Maloideae are more-or-less equivalent to subtribe Malinae or to tribe Maleae. The group includes a number of plants bearing commercially important fruits, such as apples and pears, while others are cultivated as ornamentals.

<i>Crataegus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the rose family Rosaceae

Crataegus, commonly called hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, Mayflower, or hawberry, is a genus of several hundred species of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. The name "hawthorn" was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe, especially the common hawthorn C. monogyna, and the unmodified name is often so used in Britain and Ireland. The name is now also applied to the entire genus and to the related Asian genus Rhaphiolepis.

<i>Amelanchier</i> Genus of fruit trees

Amelanchier, also known as shadbush, shadwood or shadblow, serviceberry or sarvisberry, juneberry, saskatoon, sugarplum, wild-plum or chuckley pear, is a genus of about 20 species of deciduous-leaved shrubs and small trees in the rose family (Rosaceae).

<i>Sorbus aucuparia</i> Species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae

Sorbus aucuparia, commonly called rowan and mountain-ash, is a species of deciduous tree or shrub in the rose family. It is a highly variable species, and botanists have used different definitions of the species to include or exclude trees native to certain areas. A recent definition includes trees native to most of Europe and parts of Asia, as well as northern Africa. The range extends from Madeira, the British Isles and Iceland to Russia and northern China. Unlike many plants with similar distributions, it is not native to Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loquat</span> Species of plant

The loquat is a large evergreen shrub or tree grown commercially for its orange fruit and for its leaves, which are used to make herbal tea. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant.

<i>Amelanchier alnifolia</i> Species of tree

Amelanchier alnifolia, the saskatoon berry, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, western shadbush, or western juneberry, is a shrub with an edible berry-like fruit, native to North America.

<i>Aronia</i> Genus of plants (chokeberries)

Aronia is a genus of deciduous shrubs, the chokeberries, in the family Rosaceae native to eastern North America and most commonly found in wet woods and swamps. The genus Aronia is considered to have 3 species. The most common and widely used is Aronia melanocarpa which emerged from Eastern North America. The lesser known Aronia arbutifolia and the hybrid form of the abovementioned species called Aronia prunifolia were first cultivated in Central and Eastern North America. In the eighteenth century, the first shrubs of the best-known species Aronia melanocarpa reached Europe where they were first cultivated in Scandinavia and Russia.

<i>Mespilus germanica</i> Fruit tree, the medlar

Mespilus germanica, known as the medlar or common medlar, is a large shrub or small tree in the rose family Rosaceae. The fruit of this tree, also called medlar, has been cultivated since Roman times, is usually available in winter and eaten when bletted. It may be eaten raw and in a range of cooked dishes. When the genus Mespilus is included in the genus Crataegus, the correct name for this species is Crataegus germanica (Kuntze). In the southwest of England it historically had a number of vulgar nicknames, such as open-arse and monkey's bottom, due to the appearance of its large calyx.

<i>Mespilus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Mespilus, commonly called medlar, is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae containing the single species Mespilus germanica of southwest Asia. It is also found in some countries in the Balkans, especially in Albanian regions. A second proposed species, Mespilus canescens, discovered in North America in 1990, proved to be a hybrid between M. germanica and one or more species of hawthorn, and is properly known as ×Crataemespilus canescens.

<i>Exochorda</i> Genus of flowering plants

Exochorda is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, native to China and central Asia (Turkestan). They are used as ornamental plants with the common name pearl bush, or pearlbush. Numerous species have been described on the basis of differing appearance and geographical separation, but a systematic study revealed that the different types are closely related and probably all descended from a single species that formerly had a wide distribution that has been fragmented by habitat loss. As a single species the correct name is E. racemosa.

<i>Peraphyllum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Peraphyllum is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the rose family, containing the single species Peraphyllum ramosissimum, commonly known as the squaw apple or wild crab apple.

<i>Capparis decidua</i> Species of tree

Capparis decidua, commonly known as karira, is a useful plant in its marginal habitat.

<i>Amelanchier laevis</i> Species of tree

Amelanchier laevis, the smooth shadbush, smooth serviceberry or Allegheny serviceberry, is a North American species of tree in the rose family Rosaceae, growing up to 9 metres (30 ft) tall. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States, from Newfoundland west to Ontario, Minnesota, and Iowa, south as far as Georgia and Alabama.

<i>Amelanchier <span style="font-style:normal;">×</span> lamarckii</i> Species of flowering plant

Amelanchier × lamarckii, also called juneberry, serviceberry or shadbush, is a large deciduous flowering shrub or small tree in the family Rosaceae.

<i>Chaenomeles japonica</i> Species of plant

Chaenomeles japonica, called the Japanese quince or Maule's quince, is a species of flowering quince that is native to Japan.

Snowy mespilus refers to species of trees or shrubs in the genus Amelanchier:-

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maleae</span> Tribe of flowering plants

The Maleae are the apple tribe in the rose family, Rosaceae. The group includes a number of plants bearing commercially important fruits, such as apples and pears, while others are cultivated as ornamentals. Older taxonomies separated some of this group as tribe Crataegeae, as the Cydonia group, or some genera were placed in family Quillajaceae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malinae</span> Subtribe of flowering plants

Malinae is the name for the apple subtribe in the rose family, Rosaceae. This name is required by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, which came into force in 2011 for any group at the subtribe rank that includes the genus Malus but not either of the genera Rosa or Amygdalus. The group includes a number of plants bearing commercially important fruits, such as apples and pears, while others are cultivated as ornamentals.

<i>Salix appendiculata</i> Salix appendiculata common name

Salix appendiculata is a plant from the willow genus (Salix). They can be found in France, Italy, Central and Eastern Europe, and on the Balkan Peninsula.

<i>Amelanchier obovalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Amelanchier obovalis, the coastal serviceberry, coastal juneberry, or shadbush, is a species of flowering plant in the Rosaceae family. It is native to the Atlantic coastal plain of the United States, from New Jersey to Georgia, typically in pine barrens and other dry woodlands.

References

  1. ↑ The Plant List, Amelanchier ovalis Medik.
  2. ↑ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  3. ↑ Altervista flora Italiana, Pero corvino, cornijuelo, gemeine Felsenbirne, berghäggmispel, Amelanchier ovalis Medik. includes photos and European distribution map
  4. ↑ Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
  5. ↑ Tela Botanica, Description de Coste, Amelanchier vulgaris in French
  6. 1 2 Krüssmann, G. (1976). Handbuch der Laubgehölze (2 ed.). Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey.
  7. 1 2 3 Schroeder, F.G. (1995). Amelanchier. In: Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa, Band IV, Teil 2B (2 ed.). Berlin and Wien: Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag. pp. 385–404.
  8. ↑ Favarger, Claude; Stearn, William T. (1983). "Contribution à la cytotaxonomie de l'Amelanchier ovalis Medikus (Rosaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 87: 85–103. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1983.tb00985.x.
  9. ↑ Siegmund, Seybold (2002). Schmeil-Fitschen interaktiv die umfassende Bestimmungs- und Informationsdatenbank der Pflanzenwelt Deutschlands und angrenzender Länder ; der Schlüssel zur Pflanzenwelt ; mit ausführlicher Begleitbroschüre (1.1 (2.Edition) ed.). Wiebelsheim: Quelle und Meyer. ISBN   3-494-01327-6.
  10. ↑ Schulz, Bernd (1999). Gehölzbestimmung im Winter. Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Ulmer. ISBN   978-3-8001-5074-8.
  11. 1 2 "Amelanchier ovalis Medik". infoflora. infloflora. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nechwatal, Jan (2014). "Amelanchier ovalis". In Stimm, Bernd; Roloff, Andreas; Lang, Ulla M; Weisgerber, Horst (eds.). Enzyklopädie der Holzgewächse: Handbuch und Atlas der Dendrologie. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. pp. 1–8. doi:10.1002/9783527678518. ISBN   978-3-527-67851-8.
  13. ↑ Oberdorfer, Erich (2001). Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora für Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete (8 ed.). Stuttgart: Ulmer. p. 501. ISBN   978-3-8001-3131-0.
  14. ↑ Lombardo, Emanuela; Bancheva, Svetlana; Domina, Gianniantonio; Venturella, Giuseppe (2020). "Distribution, ecological role and symbioses of selected shrubby species in the Mediterranean Basin: A review" (PDF). Plant Biosystems. 154 (4): 438–454. doi:10.1080/11263504.2020.1727988. hdl:10447/418458. S2CID   214032750. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-07-16.
  15. 1 2 3 "Felsenbirne". Felsenbirne. Agroscope. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  16. 1 2 Moraldi, M.; Falcinelli, F. (2000). "European amelanchier (Amelanchier ovalis)" (PDF). Sherwood - Foreste ed Alberi Oggi (in Italian). 6 (2): 33–38. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-22. Abstract in English.
  17. ↑ Laksaeva, Elena A. (2018). "Fruits of plants of Amelanchier genus (Amelanchier Medic) as source of biologically active substances and minerals". I.P. Pavlov Russian Medical Biological Herald. 26 (2): 296–304. doi: 10.23888/PAVLOVJ2018262296-304 . Retrieved 8 November 2022.
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