Sorbus decora | |
---|---|
At the Akureyri Botanical Gardens | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Rosaceae |
Genus: | Sorbus |
Species: | S. decora
|
Binomial name | |
Sorbus decora (Sarg.)
C.K.Schneid.
| |
Natural range includes southern tip of Greenland (not shown) | |
Synonyms | |
List
|
Sorbus decora, commonly known as the northern mountain ash, [1] showy mountain-ash, [2] Greenland mountain-ash, and dogberry, is a species of deciduous shrub or very small tree native to northeastern North America.
Sorbus decora 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 mm (1⁄4–1⁄4 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]
Sorbus decora occurs throughout the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, the New England-Acadian forest region, the eastern Canadian boreal forests and Greenland. It cannot be found north of 62°15′N, which confines it the southern tip of Greenland, generally deeper up the western fjords, such as the Qinngua Valley. [4] [5]
Sorbus decora is very similar to the closely related American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana). Like the American mountain-ash, the showy mountain-ash has odd- pinnately compound leaves and often large clusters of flowers and fruits. Showy mountain-ash can be distinguished by its shiny, sticky buds, [6] and its slightly larger flowers and fruit. [2] It is said to bloom a week earlier. [3]
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.
Sorbus decora | |
---|---|
At the Akureyri Botanical Gardens | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Rosaceae |
Genus: | Sorbus |
Species: | S. decora
|
Binomial name | |
Sorbus decora (Sarg.)
C.K.Schneid.
| |
Natural range includes southern tip of Greenland (not shown) | |
Synonyms | |
List
|
Sorbus decora, commonly known as the northern mountain ash, [1] showy mountain-ash, [2] Greenland mountain-ash, and dogberry, is a species of deciduous shrub or very small tree native to northeastern North America.
Sorbus decora 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 mm (1⁄4–1⁄4 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]
Sorbus decora occurs throughout the Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, the New England-Acadian forest region, the eastern Canadian boreal forests and Greenland. It cannot be found north of 62°15′N, which confines it the southern tip of Greenland, generally deeper up the western fjords, such as the Qinngua Valley. [4] [5]
Sorbus decora is very similar to the closely related American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana). Like the American mountain-ash, the showy mountain-ash has odd- pinnately compound leaves and often large clusters of flowers and fruits. Showy mountain-ash can be distinguished by its shiny, sticky buds, [6] and its slightly larger flowers and fruit. [2] It is said to bloom a week earlier. [3]
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.