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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Common serviceberry
| image =
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Amelanchier]]''
| species = '''''A. arborea'''''
| binomial = ''Amelanchier arborea''
| binomial_authority = ([[François André Michaux|F.Michx.]]) [[Merritt Lyndon Fernald|Fernald]]
}}

The '''Common Serviceberry''' or '''Downy Serviceberry''' (''Amelanchier arborea''; [[syn.]] ''Mespilus arborea'' F. Michx.), is native to eastern [[North America]] from the [[Gulf Coast]] north to Thunder Bay in [[Ontario]] and Lake St. John in [[Quebec]], and west to [[Texas]] and [[Minnesota]].

It is usually an [[understory]] [[tree]] or large [[shrub]], but occasionally reaches into the forest [[canopy_(forest)|canopy]]. It can grow up to 20 m tall when pressured by competitors, but it usually stays much smaller, typically 5-12 m tall, with a trunk up to 15 cm diameter (rarely to 40 cm diameter). The [[bark]] is smooth and gray.

The [[bud]]s are 10-12 mm long and slender with a sharp tip, and usually more than two scales visible. The [[leaf|leaves]] are ovate or elliptical, 4-8 cm (rarely 10 cm) long and 2.5-4 cm wide, with pointed tips and finely serrated margins. A characteristic useful for identification is that the young leaves emerge downy on the underside. It is not unusual for many leaves to be damaged by [[rust (fungus)|rust]] diseases. The fall color is variable, from orange-yellow to pinkish or reddish.

It has [[perfect flower]]s (so the plant is [[monoecious]]) that are 15-25 mm diameter, with 5 [[petal]]s, emerging during budbreak in early spring. The petals are clear white, rarely light pink, and the stamens and style greenish-yellow. They are produced on pendulous [[raceme]]s 4-8 cm long with 4-10 flowers on each raceme. The flowers are larger than other [[serviceberry]]s, and is [[Pollination|pollinated]] by [[bee]]s.

The [[fruit]] is a reddish-purple [[pome]] 1 cm in diameter, resembling a small [[apple]] in shape. They ripen in summer and are very popular with [[bird]]s. The fruit is drier than some other serviceberries, and it is harvested locally for [[pie]]s and [[jam]]s; they were also used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] to make [[bread]].

There are three [[variety (biology)|varieties]]:
*''Amelanchier arborea'' var. ''arborea''. Throughout the range of the species.
*''Amelanchier arborea'' var. ''alabamensis''. Southeastern United States.
*''Amelanchier arborea'' var. ''austromontana''. Southeastern United States.

It also commonly [[hybrid]]izes with other species of ''Amelanchier'', and identification can be very difficult as a result.

===Cultivation===
This species tolerates low light levels, but is at its best in full sun. It requires good drainage and air circulation and should be watered during drought. It is often confused with other species in the nursery trade. Propagation is by seed, divisions and grafting.

==References==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?2871 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Amelanchier arborea'']
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMAR3 USDA Plant Profile: ''Amelanchier arborea'']
*[http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Amelanchier_arborea_page.html Missouriplants: ''Amelanchier arborea'']
*[http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/amearb01.htm Trees of Wisconsin: ''Amelanchier arborea'']
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/amar3.htm ''Amelanchier arborea'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]

[[Category:Maloideae]]
[[Category:Flora of Canada|Serviceberry, Downy]]
[[Category:Flora of Eastern United States|Serviceberry, Downy]]
[[Category:Flora of Plains-Midwest U.S.|Serviceberry, Downy]]
[[Category:Flora of Ontario|Serviceberry, Downy]]
[[Category:Flora of Quebec|Serviceberry, Downy]]

Common serviceberry - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 14:01, 28 April 2007