Part 8

Range: Native of Europe, Asia, and Africa; naturalized throughout much of northeastern North America.

Distinguishing Features: The small, woody “cones” and the often orbicular, irregularly toothed leaves are the distinguishing marks of this species.

SHADBUSH Amelanchier arborea (Michx. f.) Fern.

Other Names: Shadblow; Serviceberry.

Growth Form: Small tree up to 20 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 8 inches; crown rounded and spreading with many slender branchlets; trunk straight, slender, often divided into several trunks.

Bark: Smooth and silvery at first, later becoming darker and divided into loose scales.

Twigs: Slender, brown, with a few hairs when very young; leaf scars alternate, 2-ranked, slightly elevated, narrowly crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Pointed, slender, brown, up to ½ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to broadly lanceolate, pointed at the tip, rounded or sometimes a little heart-shaped at the base, finely toothed along the edges, green and smooth or nearly so on the upper surface, paler and often hairy on the lower surface, up to 4 inches long and about half as broad; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, smooth or hairy.

Flowers: Several produced in drooping clusters before the leaves appear, each showy with 5 white, oblong petals, with much of the flower hairy.

Fruit: Mostly spherical, up to ¼ inch in diameter, reddish-purple, capped by the persistent calyx, dry, 1- to 2-seeded.

Wood: Rather heavy, hard, close-grained, reddish-brown.

Uses: Fuel, tool handles; the fruit is edible.

Habitat: Wooded slopes; edge of cliffs.

Range: Quebec across to Minnesota, south to Nebraska, east to Louisiana and Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The Shadbush is recognized by its alternate, simple leaves which are usually heart-shaped at the base, and by its distinctive white flowers.

SMOOTH SHADBUSH Amelanchier laevis Wieg.

Other Name: Smooth Serviceberry.

Growth Form: Small tree up to 15 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 6 inches; crown narrowly round-topped, with many slender branchlets.

Bark: Smooth and gray at first, becoming darker and scaly at maturity.

Twigs: Slender, reddish-brown or grayish, smooth; leaf scars alternate, slightly elevated, narrowly crescent-shaped, with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Slender, pointed, reddish-brown, smooth, up to ¾ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to ovate, pointed at the tip, usually rounded at the base, up to 3 inches long, about ½ as broad, finely toothed along the edges, green and smooth on the upper surface, paler and smooth on the lower surface; leafstalks slender, up to 1 inch long, smooth.

Flowers: Up to 6 in drooping clusters, appearing after the leaves are half grown, each showy with 5 white, narrow petals, with most of the flower smooth.

Fruit: Usually spherical, up to ¼ inch in diameter, dark purple, sweet, fleshy, 1- to 2-seeded.

Wood: Hard, heavy, close-grained, dark brown.

Uses: Fuel, tool handles; the fruits are edible.

Habitat: Moist woods and slopes.