Amelanchier laevis

Amelanchier laevis (commonly known as the smooth shadbush, smooth serviceberry, or Allegheny serviceberry) is a North American species of tree in the rose family, growing up to 9 metres (30 ft) tall. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States, from Newfoundland west to Ontario, Minnesota, and Iowa, south as far as Georgia and Alabama.[3]

Amelanchier laevis
A. laevis leaf and bark
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Amelanchier
Species:	A. laevis
Binomial name
Amelanchier laevis Wiegand
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy Amelanchier arborea var. cordifolia (Ashe) B.Boivin Amelanchier arborea subsp. laevis (Wiegand) S.M.McKay ex P.Landry Amelanchier arborea var. laevis (Wiegand) H.E.Ahles Amelanchier botryapium G.B.Emers. Amelanchier canadensis Torr. & A.Gray 1840, illegitimate homonym not (L.) Medik. 1793 Amelanchier laevis var. cordifolia Ashe Amelanchier laevis f. nitida Wiegand Amelanchier laevis var. nitida (Wiegand) Fernald Pyrus botryapium Bigelow

Description

Amelanchier laevis has stems of 1–15 metres (3 ft 3 in–49 ft 3 in) or 2–17 metres (6 ft 7 in–55 ft 9 in) which grow in small clumps. Its petioles are 12–25 millimetres (0.47–0.98 in) with green blades which are elliptic and almost ovate. The leaves have 12–17 lateral veins and 6-8 teeth per cm. The fruit, which are pomes, are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruit has a sweet flavor. The bark can be made into a herbal medicine for expectant mothers. It is a deciduous tree hardy in zones 4 to 8.[4] It is cultivated as an ornamental shrub.[5][6][7] The cultivar 'R.J. Hilton' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8][9]

References

1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2018). "Amelanchier laevis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 208. e.T135956199A135956201. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135956199A135956201.en.
2. The Plant List, Amelanchier laevis Wiegand
3. Biota of North America Program 2014 state-level distribution map
4. "Kentucky Cooperative Extension". Department of Horticulture. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
5. "Amelanchier laevis". University of Maine. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
6. Wiegand, Karl McKay 1912. Rhodora 14(163): 154–158 diagnosis in Latin, description and commentary in English
7. Wiegand, Karl McKay 1912. Rhodora 14(163): plate 96, figures 7A-7G line drawings of leaves, fruits, and flowers of Amelanchier laevis
8. "Amelanchier laevis 'R.J. Hilton'". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
9. "Award of Garden Merit Plants November 2018 - Ornamentals" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-27.

External links

• Amelanchier laevis, Plants for a Future
• Photo taken in Virginia by David Stang, showing flowers of Amelanchier laevis

Media related to Amelanchier laevis at Wikimedia Commons

Data related to Amelanchier laevis at Wikispecies