Amelanchier ovalis

Amelanchier ovalis

The snowy mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis Medik., 1793) is a shrub species belonging to the Rosaceae family.

Systematics –
from a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subkingdom Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Rosales Order,
Rosaceae family,
Subfamily Maloideae,
Genus Amelanchier,
Species A. ovalis.
The terms are synonyms:
– Amelanchier amelanchier (L.) Degen;
– Amelanchier amelanchier (L.) Voss;
– Amelanchier amelanchier H.Karst.;
– Amelanchier amelanchier var. acutifolia (Rouy & E.G.Camus) Asch. & Graebn.;
– Amelanchier amelanchier var. genuina (Rouy & E.G.Camus) Asch. & Graebn.;
– Amelanchier rotundifolia (Lam.) Dum.Cours.;
– Amelanchier rotundifolia (Lam.) K.Koch;
– Amelanchier rupestris Bluff & Fingerh.;
– Amelanchier vulgaris Moench;
– Amelanchier vulgaris var. acutifolia Rouy & E.G.Camus;
– Amelanchier vulgaris var. genuina Rouy & E.G.Camus;
– Amelancus ovalis Vollm.;
– Aronia amelanchier (L.) Rchb.;
– Aronia amelanchier Dumort.;
– Aronia rotundifolia (Lam.) Pers.;
– Aronia rupestris (Bluff & Fingerh.) Rehder;
– Crataegus amelanchier (L.) Desf.;
– Crataegus rotundifolia Lam.;
– Mespilus amelanchier L.;
– Prunus amelanchier (L.) P.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.;
– Pyrenia amelanchier Clairv.;
– Pyrus amelanchier (L.) Du Roi;
– Pyrus amelanchier (L.) L.f.;
– Sorbus amelanchier (L.) Crantz.
Within this species the following subspecies are recognised:
– Amelanchier ovalis subsp. cretica (Willd.) Maire & Petitm.;
– Amelanchier ovalis subsp. integrifolia (Boiss. & Hohen.) Bornm.;
– Amelanchier ovalis subsp. ovalis.

Etymology –
The term Amelanchier is the Latinisation of the eastern Occitan amelanquièr, a term derived from the name of the fruit (la melanque), of Ligurian origin (melanka), meaning “black berry”.
The specific epithet ovalis comes from the Latin ovum, egg, in reference to the shape of the leaves.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Amelanchier ovalis is a plant present in Europe, both in the central areas of the continent (going north up to Belgium and Germany and east up to Poland and Romania), as well as in the southern ones, including some Mediterranean islands.
Furthermore, it is also present in northern Africa (Algeria and Morocco) and in western Asia (Turkey, Middle East and Caucasian area).
In general, the species is widespread but not very common in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Its natural habitat is that of sparse woods, on slopes and also on rocky places, where it prefers calcareous soils, while as regards light and water it has no particular needs, but in any case like almost all mountain plants it does not resist a marked summer drought . It tolerates the cold very well and in Italy it grows up to over 2000 meters of altitude.

Description –
Amelanchier ovalis is a plant that grows in the form of a bushy shrub up to 3 m high, but usually with a height ranging from 1-1.5 m.
The stem and branches have a reddish bark and are covered with short patent hairs or ringed tomentum.
The leaves are deciduous, ovate-elliptical in shape, 2 to 4 cm long and with a serrated margin. The underside is white-tomentose, particularly in the young leaves.
The flowers are white and are carried at the end of short axillary branches, in short raceme inflorescences. They have short, acute and divergent sepals reddened underneath. Of a very typical and unmistakable shape, with 5 very long and narrow petals, very spaced from each other, velvety, with numerous stamens.
The flowers appear before or simultaneously with the leaves.
The anthesis is between April and May.
The fruit is a spherical pome (actually a false fruit as the real fruit is represented only by the central part enveloping the seeds, while the growing part around it comes from the receptacle), about 1 cm in diameter, of an opaque black-blue color , containing about ten seeds; maturation is completed in July. It tastes similar to pear or fig.

Cultivation –
Amelanchier ovalis is a deciduous shrub that is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. It is also a very ornamental plant, grown in gardens and used in hedges.
It is a plant that grows, preferably, on superficial soils poor in humus and nutrients, playing an important pioneer role, for example, on rocky slopes of calcareous nature, sometimes going up to 2000 m above sea level, provided it is in a sufficiently sunny and warm position .
Currently, the species is sometimes proposed as an ornamental plant for gardens, as it is easy to cultivate thanks to its ability to thrive even in poor and relatively arid soils, while it does not like soils which remain humid for too long.
The plant resists up to about -20 °C.
The species hybridizes spontaneously with other members of this genus; sometimes grafting onto seedlings of A. lamarckii or Sorbus aucuparia is done to avoid the potential problem of hybridization.
Propagation can be by seed. It is best sown when fully formed but before the seed coat has hardened, and then sown immediately in an open pot or seedbed. If stored seed is obtained early enough in the fall it can undergo 4 weeks of warm stratification before being left out in winter and should then germinate in spring. Otherwise the seed can be very slow to germinate, being able to take even more than 18 months.
The young seedlings are then placed in individual pots, transplanting them when they reach 20 cm or more in height.
It is then advisable to cultivate the seedlings for two years in the seedbed before planting them in the open field.
It can also be multiplied by suckers. The suckers have to grow for 2 years before you pick them, otherwise they won’t have roots. They can be planted directly in the open field if necessary.

Customs and Traditions –
Amelanchier ovalis is a plant that was described by the German botanist Friedrich Kasimir Medikus (1736-1808) in his work “Geschichte der Botanik unserer Zeiten” published in 1793. It produces small edible purple-black or red fruits, which are very appreciated by birds and small animals.
This plant has been the subject of interest from botanists and plant enthusiasts for a long time. Its aesthetic beauty, edible fruit, and ability to attract wildlife have made Amelanchier ovalis a popular choice for gardens and landscapes. It has also often been used for ornamental purposes in parks and public spaces.
The conservation and sustainable management of Amelanchier ovalis populations have become important in view of environmental threats and the pressures of urbanization and agriculture.
Its fruits are edible and have a taste similar to pears, but are not very palatable due to the scarcity of pulp and the quantity of seeds; they can be eaten fresh or used to make jams, preserves and to flavor grappa. Once an alcoholic beverage was also made from it. It is also an excellent melliferous plant, but it is not possible to produce honey due to its scarce diffusion.
It is considered both a medicinal plant and a medicinal plant: infusions of leaves or bark have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, astringent and diuretic properties.
In edible use, the fruits are consumed raw or cooked.
The fruit is also dried and used as a currant; it is also rich in iron and copper.
In its agroforestry the plant can play an important role in agroecology, for the preparation of hedges, as its fruits are very important for birds and other animals.
As for its wood, it is reddish-white in color and fine-grained, hard, very heavy. Available in small sizes only, it is used to make small items.
In general it is a hard and elastic wood and can be used to obtain tool handles.

Method of Preparation –
Amelanchier ovalis is a plant which, although its fruits are edible, due to the scarcity of pulp they are not particularly palatable for humans, while they are much appreciated by the fauna and particularly by birds which ensure their dispersion.
However, especially in the past, the fruits were used to prepare jams, preserves or to flavor grappa and furthermore it is still considered a good melliferous plant today.
The bark and leaves prepared in infusion were attributed antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, astringent, diuretic and hypotensive properties. Precisely because of these medicinal properties, the species was often cultivated in the gardens of medieval monasteries.
Its wood was also used to make tool handles, and sometimes even to make fine objects. Finally, branches, leaves and bark were used to dye fabrics or wool.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/275456685/original.jpg
– https://temperate.theferns.info/image/Amelanchier+ovalis

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.