Amelanchier alnifolia

Amelanchier alnifolia (pronounced: am-uh-lan-kee-er al-ni-fo-lee-uh), also known as the Saskatoon, Pacific serviceberry, western serviceberry, alder-leaf shadbush, dwarf shadbush, chuckley pear, or western juneberry, is a shrub with edible berry-like fruit, native to North America from Alaska across most of western Canada and in the western and north-central United States.

Etymology

The name Amelanchier alnifolia is derived from the Latin words amelan meaning "not black" and chier meaning "cherries", referring to the color of its fruit. Alnifolia refers to the alder-like leaves of the plant.

Description

Amelanchier alnifolia is a deciduous shrub growing 1–8 m (3 ft 3 in–26 ft 3 in) tall, with a trunk up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter. The leaves are oval to nearly circular, 2–5 cm (3⁄4–2 in) long and 1–4.5 cm (3⁄8–1 3⁄4 in) broad, on a 0.5–2 cm (1⁄4–3⁄4 in) leaf stem, margins toothed mostly above the middle. The flowers are produced in early spring in dense clusters of 3–20 together; each flower is 2–3 cm diameter with five white petals and 15–20 stamens.

Uses

The fruit of Amelanchier alnifolia is sweet and usually consumed raw. It is also used in making pies, jams, wines, and other food products. The wood of the plant is hard and can be used in making tools and other implements.

Related Terms

Rosaceae: The family to which Amelanchier alnifolia belongs.
Deciduous: A term referring to plants that shed their leaves annually.
Shrub: A small to medium-sized woody plant.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Amelanchier alnifolia
Wikipedia's article - Amelanchier alnifolia

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Amelanchier alnifolia