dcsimg

Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
American mountain-ash
mountain ash
dogberry
small-fruited mountain ash
roundwood
missey-mossey
cormier (Quebec)
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Cover Value

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: cover

American mountain-ash is rated fair for wildlife cover in North Dakota
[15].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Description

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: shrub, tree

American mountain-ash is a native, smooth-barked, deciduous shrub or
small tree 10 to 30 feet (3-9 m) tall, with an average d.b.h. of 4 to 10
inches (10-25 cm). It has a short trunk; slender, spreading branches;
and a narrow, open round-topped crown. In closed canopies it tends to
have a longer trunk, with the lower portions branch-free [10,12,21]. It
tends to be slow growing and short-lived. The roots are fibrous [39].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
American mountain-ash occurs in northeastern North America from
Newfoundland and Nova Scotia south to New Jersey and Pennsylvania and in
the mountains to South Carolina and Georgia, west to Minnesota and
eastern North and South Dakota [10,12,20,21].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Ecology

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: fire regime

American mountain-ash is not well adapted to survive fire; it is small,
has thin bark, and occurs largely in areas that do not burnt at frequent
intervals [47,53]. It will, however, sprout from the stump if
top-killed by fire [9].

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Management Considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: density, prescribed fire

In red spruce stands that are logged and burned (either by prescribed
fire or wildfire), hardwoods, because they sprout from the stumps, tend
to overtake the spruce regeneration. American mountain-ash was found to
have a density of 80 stems per acre (200/ha) on a site that had been cut
then burned twice (8 and 10 years before the study). The large amount
of residue occurring when red spruce stands are logged increases the
risk of severe fires that can reduce spruce regeneration [24].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

More info for the term: phanerophyte

Phanerophyte
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat characteristics

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: density

American mountain-ash prefers moist habitats from the borders of swamps
to rocky hillsides. It is commmon in openings or in woods, scattered on
uplands along edges of woods, roadsides, and under semiopen stands
[10,28]. It will grow well in a stunted form on relatively dry soils
[21].

Most American mountain-ash in the White Mountains of New England occurs
from 2,310 to 4,290 feet (700-1,300 m), decreasing in abundance at the
higher elevations [30,42]. Soils in this area are youthful, shallow,
and infertile; the climate is cool, windy, and humid [42]. In the
Adirondack Mountains of New York, American mountain-ash rarely occurs
below 3,135 feet (950 m) and is generally found on well-drained to
imperfectly drained Spodsols or Inceptisols [10,28,31]. In the boreal
forests of Ontario, density of American mountain-ash was highest on
sites with scattered mature or semimature coniferous and deciduous
species and lowest on conifer sites with relatively closed canopies or
on sites that had been logged and then planted [34].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Cover Types

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

1 Jack pine
5 Balsam fir
12 Black spruce
13 Black spruce - tamarack
15 Red pine
16 Aspen
17 Pin cherry
18 Paper birch
19 Gray birch - red maple
20 White pine - northern red oak - red maple
21 Eastern white pine
22 White pine - hemlock
23 Eastern hemlock
24 Hemlock - yellow birch
25 Sugar maple - beech - yellow birch
26 Sugar maple - basswood
27 Sugar maple
28 Black cherry - maple
51 White pine - chestnut oak
60 Beech - sugar maple
107 White spruce
108 Red maple
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES11 Spruce - fir
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch
FRES19 Aspen - birch
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: forest

K093 Great Lakes spruce - fir forest
K095 Great Lakes pine forest
K096 Northeastern spruce - fir forest
K097 Southeastern spruce - fir forest
K099 Maple - basswood forest
K100 Oak - hickory forest
K102 Beech - maple forest
K103 Mixed mesophytic forest
K104 Appalachian oak forest
K106 Northern hardwoods
K107 Northern hardwoods - fir forest
K108 Northern hardwoods - spruce forest
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Immediate Effect of Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
While no direct documentation on the immediate effect of fire on
American mountain-ash was available, it is reasonable to presume that it
is readily top-killed by fire due to its thin bark and small stature.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
American mountain-ash is a preferred browse for moose and white-tailed
deer [22,43,46,48]. Moose will eat foliage, twigs, and bark. Up to 80
percent of American mountain-ash stems were browsed by moose in control
plots adjacent to exclosures on Isle Royale [55]. Fishers, martens,
snowshoe hares, and ruffed grouse also browse American mountain-ash
[2,54].

The berries of American mountain-ash are eaten by numerous species of
birds and small mammals, including ruffed grouse, ptarmigans,
sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, American robins, other thrushes,
waxwings, jays, squirrels, and rodents [10,33,54].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Key Plant Community Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: codominant, shrub

American mountain-ash is listed as codominant with balsam fir (Abies
balsamea) on Isle Royale, Michigan. The primary associates in the shrub
layer include American yew (Taxus canadensis), mountain maple (Acer
spicatum), and honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis). Ground layer
associates include yellow beadlily (Clintonia borealis), northern
clubmoss (Lycopodium annotium), twinflower (Linnea borealis), woodfern
(Dryopteris disjuncta), naked miterwort (Mitella nuda), alpine circaea
(Circaea alpina), wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), and red
raspberry (Rubus idaeus var. strugosis) [19].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Life Form

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: shrub, tree

Tree, Shrub
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, succession

American mountain-ash is preferentially browsed by moose and
white-tailed deer. In a study of the effects of moose browsing on
American mountain-ash on Isle Royale, Michigan, a small to moderate
number of mature trees were reported on unbrowsed sites, but American
mountan-ash was nearly nonexistent on browsed sites. The number of
seedlings and saplings were similar on browsed and unbrowsed sites; the
authors stated that stump sprouting has probably sustained stem
densities on these sites [46]. In long-term moose exclosures, American
mountain-ash declined in abundance, probably due to shading by other
trees. There was an increase in abundance of American mountain-ash on
control plots adjacent to exclosures, but individuals were severely
retarded in vertical growth [43]. Krefting [26] reported that in some
areas of Isle Royale, American mountain-ash is sparse because of
browsing by moose. Stunted and severely deformed plants may survive for
more than 50 years. In general, browsing by moose may slow succession
[43].

American mountain-ash cannot withstand more than light use, and
productivity will decline under heavy browsing [2,26]. The availability
of American mountain-ash as food for white-tailed deer is often limited
due to excessive browsing. Small plants are locally abundant, and are
kept small by constant browsing [2]. White-tailed deer have eliminated
American mountain-ash in some areas of Pennsylvania and New York [3].

American mountain-ash is rated as having good survival on exposed
cut-over areas [52].

In a study to obtain release of conifers after logging disturbance,
herbicide treatments (including 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, triclopyr and
glyphosate) reduced the amount of cover of hardwoods, including American
mountain-ash, from 46 percent to 14 percent, with a concomitant increase
in growth of spruce (Picea spp.) and fir (Abies spp.). The authors of
this study believe that this type of treatment approximately 5 to 7
years after logging is economical and safe and will help maintain
even-aged spruce-fir regeneration for 60-year rotations. With this type
of management, over 30 percent of all age classes can remain in highly
desirable browse condition (browse species including American
mountain-ash) for most of the year [35].

American mountain-ash seeds can be sown unstratified in early fall or
winter. Sowing in July or August for germination the following spring
is also satisfactory, since a warb treatment prior to chilling is
beneficial. Seedlings are quite hardy and not readily susceptible to
insects or disease. Unprotected seedlings may be nipped by deer [20].
Soil requirements for cultivation include a pH of 4.7 to 6.0, a minimum
of 1.7 percent organic matter and a minimum of 7 percent silt and clay
particles with ground water at 1.5 to 2.5 feet (0.5-0.8 m), and 15
percent silt and clay particles with ground water at 2.5 or more feet
(0.8 m or more) [52].

American mountain-ash is listed as a favored food for gypsy moth larvae
during all larval stages. It may be subject to severe defoliation at
high levels of infestation [16].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Nutritional Value

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: forest

The berries of American mountain-ash were found to have the following
nutrient values [50]:

% of dry weight
crude protein 5.44
available protein 4.25
crude fiber 8.02
ether extract 4.66
Nitrogen-free extract 78.78
lignin 9.57
cellulose 6.87
tannin 4.08

Stiles [48] found that the berries were 4.66 percent crude fat (by dry
weight), which is considered relatively low.

Twigs of American mountain-ash were analyzed by Hughes and Fahey [22]:

% of dry weight % of dry weight
in forest in clearcut

crude protein 9-12 10-20
cell solubles 62-80 68-86
cellulose 10-12 4-8
lignin 4-8 2-6
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
CT GA IL KY ME MD MA MI MN NH
NJ NY NC ND OH PA RI SC SD TN
VT VA WI MB NB NF NS ON PE PQ
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Other uses and values

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: fruit

American mountain-ash is valued as an ornamental in many areas but is
not successful where there is insufficient moisture. It is not well
adapted to warmer habitats [10,15,20]. American mountain-ash is also
planted for windbreaks [20].

The berries are edible for humans but are too acidic to be eaten raw
[6]. They can be cooked with meats or made into jelly [6,21].

The fruit and inner bark of American mountain-ash have been used for
medicinal purposes [21].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Palatability

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Aldous [2] rates American mountain-ash as one of the most palatable
foods for deer. Moose prefer American mountain-ash; it can comprise up
to 57 percent of their summer diet, depending on availability [26].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Phenology

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: fruit, tree

American mountain-ash flowers from May to July; fruit ripens in August.
The berries remain on the tree and are available to birds all winter
[10,12].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Plant Response to Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: wildfire

On Isle Royale, Michigan, American mountain-ash was found sprouting from
the stumps 5 years after a wildfire [9].

Ohmann and Grigal [37] reported a steady increase in the size of
individual American mountain-ash stems but no increase in the number of
individuals in the first 5 years after wildfire in Minnesota.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Post-fire Regeneration

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: ground residual colonizer, root crown, secondary colonizer, shrub

Tree with adventitious-bud root crown/root sucker
Tall shrub, adventitious-bud root crown
Ground residual colonizer (on-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regeneration Processes

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, forest, stratification

Sexual reproduction: There are approximately 388,000 seeds per pound
(352,000/kg) [48]. The seeds are largely dispersed by birds. In
studies to determine the amount of time the seeds are retained in the
gut of various birds, the maximum time between ingestion and defecation
was 30 minutes, indicating that the distance of dispersal is probably
not great but could be on the order of a few hundred feet to a few miles
[48]. The seeds require 60 or more days of cold stratification at 33 to
41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.6-5 deg C) [20]. American mountain-ash
reproduces well over a wide range of forest stand and site conditions on
Isle Royale, Michigan. The greatest amount of reproduction occurred in
birch (Betula spp.)-fir-spruce cover types [19].

Seedling numbers from 400 to 2,920 per acre (1,000-7,300/ha) were
reported on Isle Royale and adjacent islands in Minnesota. The number
of saplings ranged from 40 to 1,064 per acre (100-2,660/ha), while the
number of adults ranged from 2 to 3 per acre (4-6/ha) (browsed sites)
and from 18 to 149 per acre (45 to 373/ha) (unbrowsed sites) [46].

Asexual reproduction: American mountain-ash will sprout from the stump
when top-killed [7,8,9].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Successional Status

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: cover, density, shrubs, succession

Facultative Seral Species

American mountain-ash is shade intolerant [28]. American mountain-ash
is listed as a subordinate species in advanced old-field succession
community types [45]. In a study of secondary succession in
high-elevation spruce-fir forests, American mountain-ash had an average
of 152 stems per acre (382/ha) and an average d.b.h. of 1.5 inches (3.9
cm) (smaller than average), with a moderate amount of reproduction (1
seedling per 25 sq m plot). This density is higher than usually found
in mature canopies, which is on the order of 4 to 20 stems per acre (10
to 50/ha) in red spruce (Picea rubens)-balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
[1,29]. It therefore appears to be more abundant in early seral
communities, but it is present at low densities in old-growth stages of
spruce-fir communities [13,44,45].

Seven years after logging, browse species (including American
mountain-ash) were 3 to 8 times more abundant on logged sites than on
undisturbed control plots [35]. In Tennessee, American mountain-ash
increased in biomass as the canopy cover of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri)
decreased with fir mortality [5].

Cooper [9] noted that American mountain-ash was part of an early seral
community in rock crevices on the shores of Isle Royale, Michigan,
establishing with or shortly after shrubs. In 17 years, the stunted
shrubs of American mountain-ash in these rocky clefts had grown to a
height of 6 feet (1.8 m) [9].

The number of American mountain-ash twigs almost doubled over 3 years
following clearcutting. Most of the twigs were on stems that survived
the logging [22].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Synonyms

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Pyrus americana L.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: fern, marsh

The accepted scientific name for American mountain-ash is Sorbus
americana Marsh. [10,23,39]. There are no recognized subspecies,
varieties or forms.

American mountain-ash hybridizes naturally with black chokeberry (Pyrus
melanocarpa), producing P. xmixta Fern., and with purple chokeberry (P.
floribunda), producing P. xjackii (Rehd) Fern. [12].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Wood Products Value

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
The wood of American mountain-ash is light, soft, weak, and close
grained. The heartwood is pale brown; the sapwood is thick and lighter
in color [39]. The wood is not commercially important [21].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1992. Sorbus americana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Sorbus americana

provided by wikipedia EN

The tree species Sorbus americana is commonly known as the American mountain-ash.[4] It is a deciduous perennial tree, native to eastern North America.[5]

The American mountain-ash and related species (most often the European mountain-ash, Sorbus aucuparia) are also referred to as rowan trees.

Description

Sorbus americana is a relatively small tree, reaching 12 metres (40 ft) in height.[5] The American mountain-ash attains its largest specimens on the northern shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior.[6]

It resembles the European mountain-ash, Sorbus aucuparia.

Bark
Light gray, smooth, surface scaly. Branchlets downy at first, later become smooth, brown tinged with red, lenticular, finally they become darker and the papery outer layer becomes easily separable.
Wood
Pale brown; light, soft, close-grained but weak. Specific gravity, 0.5451; weight of cu. ft., 33.97 lbs.
Winter buds
Dark red, acute, one-fourth to three-quarters of an inch long. Inner scales are very tomentose and enlarge with the growing shoot.
Leaves
Alternate, compound, odd-pinnate, 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) long, with slender, grooved, dark green or red petiole. Leaflets 13 to 17, lanceolate or long oval, two to three inches long, one-half to two-thirds broad, unequally wedge-shaped or rounded at base, serrate, acuminate, sessile, the terminal one sometimes borne on a stalk half an inch long, feather-veined, midrib prominent beneath, grooved above. They come out of the bud downy, conduplicate; when full grown are smooth, dark yellow green above and paler beneath. In autumn they turn a clear yellow. Stipules leaf-like, caducous.
Flowers
May, June, after the leaves are full grown. Perfect, white, one-eighth of an inch across, borne in flat compound cymes three or four inches across. Bracts and bractlets acute, minute, caducous.
Calyx
Urn-shaped, hairy, five-lobed; lobes, short, acute, imbricate in bud.
Corolla
Petals five, creamy white, orbicular, contracted into short claws, inserted on calyx, imbricate in bud.
Stamens
Twenty to thirty, inserted on calyx tube; filaments thread-like; anthers introrse, two-celled; cells opening longitudinally.
Pistil
Two to three carpels inserted in the bottom of the calyx tube and united into an inferior ovary. Styles two to three; stigmas capitate; ovules two in each cell.
Fruit
Berry-like pome, globular, one-quarter of an inch across, bright red, borne in cymous clusters. Ripens in October and remains on the tree all winter. Flesh thin and sour, charged with malic acid; seeds light brown, oblong, compressed; cotyledons fleshy.[6]

Distribution

Native to eastern North America;

Biota

The berries of American mountain-ash are eaten by numerous species of birds, including ruffed grouse, ptarmigans, sharp-tailed grouse, blue grouse, American robins, other thrushes, waxwings, jays, and small mammals, such as squirrels and rodents.[9]

American mountain-ash is a preferred browse for moose and white-tailed deer. Moose will eat foliage, twigs, and bark. Up to 80 percent of American mountain-ash stems were browsed by moose in control plots adjacent to exclosures on Isle Royale. Fishers, martens, snowshoe hares, and ruffed grouse also browse American mountain-ash.[9]

Cultivation

Sorbus americana is cultivated as an ornamental tree, for use in gardens and parks. It prefers a rich moist soil and the borders of swamps, but will flourish on rocky hillsides.

A cultivar is the red cascade mountain-ash, or Sorbus americana 'Dwarfcrown'. It is planted in gardens, and as a street tree.[10]

Uses

After their first winter freeze, the fruits are edible raw or cooked. They can be used to make pie and jelly.[11]

References

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Sorbus americana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T135956666A135956668. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135956666A135956668.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Sorbus americana". www.itis.gov.
  3. ^ "Sorbus americana". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden.
  4. ^ "Conservation Plant Characteristics for ScientificName (CommonName) - USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov.
  5. ^ a b McAllister, H.A. (2005). The genus Sorbus: Mountain Ash and other Rowans. Kew Publishing.
  6. ^ a b Keeler, Harriet L. (1900). Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 136–140.
  7. ^ "Sorbus americana". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  8. ^ "Threatened Search Results - USDA PLANTS". plants.usda.gov.
  9. ^ a b "Sorbus americana". www.fs.fed.us.
  10. ^ "Urban Forest Nursery: Tree Profile for the Red Cascade Mountain Ash". www.urbanforestnursery.com. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  11. ^ Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Sorbus americana: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The tree species Sorbus americana is commonly known as the American mountain-ash. It is a deciduous perennial tree, native to eastern North America.

The American mountain-ash and related species (most often the European mountain-ash, Sorbus aucuparia) are also referred to as rowan trees.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN