ROSACEAE

ROSE FAMILY

Annual to tree
Leaves simple to pinnately to palmately compound, generally alternate; stipules free to fused, persistent to deciduous
Inflorescence: cyme, raceme, panicle, or flowers solitary
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium free or fused to ovary, saucer- to funnel-shaped, often with bractlets alternate with sepals; sepals generally 5; petals generally 5, free; stamens (0)5–many, pistils (0)1–many, simple or compound; ovary superior to inferior, styles 1–5
Fruit: achene, follicle, drupe, pome, or blackberry- to raspberry-like
Seeds generally 1–5
Genera in family: 110 genera, ± 3000 species: worldwide, especially temp. Many cultivated for ornamental and fruit, especially Cotoneaster , Fragaria , Malus , Prunus , Pyracantha, Rosa , and Rubus
Reference: [Robertson 1974 J Arnold Arbor 55:303–332,344–401,611–662]
Family description, key to genera by Barbara Ertter and Dieter H. Wilken.

AMELANCHIER

SERVICE-BERRY

Dieter H. Wilken

Shrub or small tree
Stem: bark gray- to red-brown; twigs generally short
Leaves alternate or clustered, simple, deciduous; stipules deciduous
Inflorescence: racemes or clusters; flowers 3–16+
Flower: hypanthium bell- to urn-shaped; sepals persistent; petals ascending to erect, white; stamens ± 10–20; ovary inferior, 2–5-chambered, styles 2–5
Fruit: pome, berry-like, generally spheric, blue-black
Species in genus: ± 10 species: temp North America, Eurasia, n Africa. Fr of some species used by native Americans for food
Etymology: (Latin: from old French common name)
Reference: [Jones 1946 Illinois Biol Mongr 20(2):1–126]
Variation in w North America needs further study.

Native

A. alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt.

Shrub 1–8 m
Stem: twigs glabrous to tomentose
Leaf: blade 9–50 mm, 8–45 mm wide, elliptic to round, generally serrate above middle
Flower: petals 3–4 mm wide, oblong to oblanceolate; styles (4)5
Fruit 7–14 mm diam
Ecology: Open scrub, coniferous forest
Elevation: 50–2600 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, n Outer North Coast Ranges, n&c High Sierra Nevada (e slope)
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, north-central US, New Mexico
3–4 other vars. in nw US, Rocky Mtns.

Native

var. semiintegrifolia (Hook.) C.L. Hitchc.

Shrub or tree-like, 2–8 m
Leaf: blade 25–45 mm, 20–40 mm wide, lower surface glabrous to sparsely hairy, upper surface glabrous, lateral veins 16–24
Inflorescence 3–7 cm; flowers 5–16
Flower: petals 11–15 mm; ovary top tomentose
Fruit 10–14 mm diam
Chromosomes: 2n=34
Ecology: Open coniferous or mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: 50–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, n Outer North Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Idaho
Synonyms: A. florida Lindl
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5, 6, 17 &IRR: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21.