﻿Trees of Neiv York State 2:i9 



ROSACEAE 



Pyrus Aucuparia (L.) Ehrh. [Sorbus Aucuparia L.] 



European Mountain Ash, Rowan Tree 



Habit — A small, quick-growiiig tree, usually 20-40 feet in height with a 

 trunk diameter of 6-15 inches, under optimum conditions occasionally 60 

 feet tall, at the northern limits of its range in Eurasia often reduced to 

 a small shrub. Trunk short, separating a fe^v feet above the ground into 

 stout, spreading branches to form a rounded cro-^^Ti. 



Leaves — Alternate, odd-pinnately compound, 6-10 inches long, consisting of 

 £>-15 sessile or nearly sessile leaflets arranged in pairs along a slender 

 hairy petiole, the terminal leaflet stalked. Leaflets oblong to oblong- 

 lanceolate, blunt or short-pointed at the apex, rounded and inequilateral 

 at the base, serrate, 74-2 inches long, V2-% of an inch broad, at matur- 

 ity dull green and somewhat pubescent above, paler and sparingly to men- ■ 

 tose beneath. 



Flowers — -Appearing in Jime or July after the leaves are fully gi-o\\Ti, per- 

 fect, about V:> of an inch in diameter, borne on short pedicels in compact, 

 woolly cymes 4-6 inches in diameter. Calj-x gamosepalous, obconic, with 

 short, acute, pubescent lobes. Petals white, orbicular, short-clawed, 

 inserted with the stamens on the calyx-tube. Stamens about 20, as long 

 as the petals. Pistil 3-5-celled with a like number of distinct styles and 

 capitate stigmas. 



Fruit — A stalked, globose, berry-like, bright red pome, about % of an inch 

 in diameter, marked at the top by the persistent calyx-lobes, ripening in 

 the autumn and persisting into the winter unless devoured by birds. 

 Seeds chestnut-brown, about % of an inch long. 



Winter characters — Twigs rather stout, pubescent, grayish brown, at length 

 dark brown. Terminal bud ovate, white-villous-tomentose, dark purplish 

 red, Vi-V2 of an inch long. Lateral buds smaller, somewhat flattened, 

 closely appressed. Mature bark thin, dark gray, smooth or somewhat 

 scaly. 



Habitat — "Widely planted in the northeastern states around the habitations 

 of man as a shade and ornamental tree. The fruit is devoured by birds 

 and wild trees thus sown are occasionally found along fences, in upland 

 bogs, and around the borders of swamjjs. 



Range — Through northern Europe to Western Asia and Siberia. Naturalized 

 in the northeastern states and eastern Canada. Zones B and C. 



Uses — Chiefly an ornamental species because of its showy white flowers and 

 large clusters of bright red fruit which persist into the late fall and 

 AA-inter. Grown A\'idely in the United States as a park tree, especially 

 the various liorticultural varieties. Wood hard, heavy, close-grained, light 

 broA\-n with paler sapwood. Used occasionally in the Old World for tool 

 handles, agricultural implements, etc. 



