Sorbus americana Marshall
Mountain ash, American mountain ash
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Rosales Rose family and eight others
Family Rosaceae Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus Sorbus Ancient Latin name for this genus
Species americana “Of of from America”
About plant names...
The American mountain-ash is a native of eastern North America. American mountain-ash is so named because
it is often found in mountain locations—all these photos are from the mountains. They are also
quite popular as landscape trees.
Plants: Trees reach 10-30′ (3-9.1 m) in height and trunks are about 4-10″ (10-25 cm) in diameter. Bark is light gray and
smooth.
Leaves: Leaves occur in groups 1-1½′ (33-43 cm) long. Individual leaflets in each group are about 2-3″ (5-7.6 cm) long and
⅝-1″ (1.6-2.5 cm) wide.
Flowers: Tiny white flowers, each ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around,
occur in large groups.
Fruits: Flowers become thick clusters of bright orange-red berries, ⅛-¼″ (3.2-6.3 mm) around.
Edibility: Raw mountain ash berries aren't good for you, but
they can be cooked into a beautiful jelly that is traditionally served with lamb, venison, or pork.
The recipe is described in Backyard Foraging.
Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ...
The Natural History of the Northwoods
Www.carolinanature.com
CirrusImage.com
Wikipedia
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
References:
Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees , Alfred A. Knopf, 2009 , p. 290
Zachos, Ellen, Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn't Know You Could Eat , Storey Publishing, 2013 , p. 104, 213
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm)
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
6/10/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine
10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm)
10/5/2014 · Mt. Killington, Killington, Vermont
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 2 × 1′ (59 × 39 cm)
I was baffled at first by these strange red branchlets. · 10/5/2014 · Mt. Killington, Killington, Vermont · ≈ 4 × 2½′ (125 × 83 cm)
9/28/2013 · Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
8/25/2017 · Pack Monadnock, near summit, Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
9/7/2013 · Beech Hill, Dublin, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm)
9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)
9/5/2000 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
Older scientific or horticultural names
Pyrus americana (Marshall) DC.
Pyrus microcarpa (Pursh) Spreng.
Sorbus americana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Oct 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
9/7/2013 · Beech Hill, Dublin, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
8/4/2006 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont ID is uncertain
Young leaves are shiny. · 9/7/2013 · Beech Hill, Dublin, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 12″ (21 × 31 cm)
9/7/2013 · Beech Hill, Dublin, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)
8/25/2017 · Pack Monadnock, near summit, Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)
9/29/2012 · Franconia Falls Trail, Franconia Notch, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
9/29/2012 · Franconia Falls Trail, Franconia Notch, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
10/5/2023 · Quill Hill, Rangeley, Maine
9/7/2013 · Beech Hill, Dublin, New Hampshire
10/6/2011 · Pack Monadnock, 2200', Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 1 × 2′ (41 × 62 cm)
9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
Unripe berries. · 8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)
9/28/2013 · Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 16 cm)
9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
10/5/2023 · Quill Hill, Rangeley, Maine
Range:
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