Saskatoon serviceberry

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrus alnifolia
• Amelanchier sanguinea var. alnifolia
• Amelanchier canadensis var. alnifolia
• Amelanchier diversifolia var. alnifolia
• Aronia alnifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Amelanchier alnifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Rosales. Finally, it is a member of the Rosaceae family under the genus Amelanchier.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented throughout Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species can also be found across Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of both Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia border region. Consequently, its geographical range spans from the northernmost Scandinavian reaches to the heart of Central Europe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Amelanchier alnifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a perennial, it avoids the rapid turnover seen in annuals or biennials, instead investing energy into robust structural development and sustained reproductive capabilities over several years. This life cycle supports its ability to establish stable populations, as the plant can survive periods of environmental stress and re-emerge to complete its developmental stages, including flowering and seed production, across successive annual cycles.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Amelanchier alnifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, maintaining a stable structure without the need for external support. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing independently in its environment rather than existing as a parasite. The plant reaches a mean height of approximately 5.35 m, contributing to its substantial presence within its ecological niche.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5.35 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amelanchier alnifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among many woody shrubs and trees that utilize the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide. Within this pathway, the initial carboxylation of CO2 is mediated by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) in the mesophyll cells, leading to the production of three-carbon compounds. This carbon fixation process is highly dependent on environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, which influence the efficiency of gas exchange through the stomata. Because it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants, its physiological performance is closely tied to maintaining optimal hydration to prevent photorespiration, a process that occurs when RuBisCO reacts with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, particularly under high-temperature or drought-stress conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amelanchier alnifolia is characterized by the production of fruit classified as a berry, which remains indehiscent upon maturity. These fruits possess an average width of 0.92 cm and serve as the primary vehicle for dispersal via a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals for movement to new locations. The seeds contained within the fruit are quite small, exhibiting a mean mass of approximately 0.00649529 g. There is slight variation in individual seed sizes, with recorded masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0028 g to a maximum of 0.0094 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.92 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0094 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00649529 g

Seed mass min:

0.0028 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Amelanchier alnifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Amelanchier alnifolia has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Anthocyanins, SKB, flavonols, polyphenols.

Flavonoids

1. Bioinformation
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Anthocyanins

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

SKB

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

flavonols

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

polyphenols

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

quercetin

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Activities

Amelanchier alnifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Amelanchier alnifolia has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include free radicals, hyperglycemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations