THE MOUNTAIN ASH 



THE American Mountain Ash is much less commonly planted as an ornamental 

 tree than is the European species. It grows spontaneously along river banks, 

 and in other moist situations, over a wide range extending from Newfoundland 

 to Manitoba on the north, south to Minnesota and Michigan, and along the mountainous 

 elevations to North Carolina. It is distinctly a Northern species, seeming to thrive best on 

 the colder slopes of the mountains or in the shaded swamps to the southward. It com- 

 monly reaches a height of about twenty feet and a trunk diameter of one foot, and is an 

 attractive tree either in blossom or in fruit. The large clusters of small white flowers are 

 well shown in the plate. They develop late in spring or early in summer, just after the 

 compound leaves have reached their full size, and are gradually succeeded by the small 

 round fruit which becomes bright red when it ripens in autumn and often remains upon 

 the tree during the winter months. 



This Mountain Ash is an extremely variable species. Many of the tree books discuss 

 the Elder-leaved Mountain Ash, under the name Sorbus sambucifolia, as a distinct form, 

 but admit that its claim to distinction is of doubtful value. Professor Sargent, in his author- 

 itative "Manual of The Trees of North America, " treats of this as a variety, decora, which 

 he says is apparently connected with the typical species by many intermediate forms. 

 This variety is a Northern form, extending south to Minnesota and the mountains of 

 Northern New York and Northern New England. It is often cultivated for ornamental 

 purposes in Canada. In the Cyclopedia of Horticulture the name sambucifolia is given 

 standing as a species. 



The typical form of the American Mountain Ash seems to be less desirable for 

 landscape planting than the European species, which is more readily obtained and gives 

 a more decorative effect. The variety decora however is an especially beautiful tree when 

 loaded with fruit. 



There are two shrubby species of Sorbus which are called Chokeberries : the Red 

 Chokeberry (5. arbutifolia) is widely distributed east of Minnesota and Louisiana ; it 

 reaches a height of ten or twelve feet and bears small reddish berries. The Black Choke- 

 berry (5. melanocarpa) is generally a smaller shrub with slightly larger shining black 

 berries. 



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