Sorbus decora
| Sorbus decora | |
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| Species: | S. decora
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| Binomial name | |
| Sorbus decora | |
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Sorbus decora, commonly known as the northern mountain ash,[1] showy mountain-ash[2] or "dogberry" is a deciduous shrub or very small tree native to northeastern North America. It occurs throughout the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, the New England-Acadian forest region, and the eastern Canadian boreal forests.
Description
Showy mountain-ash grows 4–10 metres (13–33 ft) tall. Its leaves are odd-pinnately compound, with 11–17 leaflets. Each leaflet is 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and 1–2.5 cm (3⁄8–1 in) wide. All parts are hairless to slightly hairy. Flowers are borne in 125- to more than 400-flowered panicles 6–25 cm (2+1⁄4–9+3⁄4 in) across. Each flower is 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) across and has five white petals 2.5–3.5 mm (3⁄32–1⁄8 in) long, 14–20 stamens, and carpels with 3–4 styles. The fruits (pomes) are bright red to orange-red and 4–7 mm (5⁄32–9⁄32 in) across.[3]
Similar species
Showy mountain-ash is very similar to the closely related American mountain-ash. Like the American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana), the showy mountain-ash has pinnately compound leaves and often large clusters of flowers and fruits. Showy mountain-ash can be distinguished its shiny, sticky buds,[4] and its slightly larger flowers and fruit.[2] It is said to bloom a week earlier.[3]
Uses
It is often cultivated as an ornamental plant for its cold-hardiness, its attractive flowers, and its large clusters of small red berry-like pomes.
The fruits are an important source of food for wildlife, particularly birds in the winter and early spring.
References
- ^ NRCS. "Sorbus decora". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ a b Chayka, Katy (2016). "Sorbus decora (Showy Mountain-ash)". MinnesotaWildflowers.info.
- ^ a b Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). "Sorbus decora". Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ Farrar, J.L. (1995). Trees in Canada. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry and Whitside/Canadian Forest Service.
External links
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