Snowy Mespilus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Snowy Mespilus
• serviceberry
• snowy-mespilus

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrus amelanchier
• Prunus amelanchier
• Aronia amelanchier
• Mespilus amelanchier
• Sorbus amelanchier
• Crataegus amelanchier

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is classified under the genus Amelanchier.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Norway. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in the mountainous landscapes of Austria. Its distribution continues through central territories including Belgium and the regions of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, the plant is also widely recognized as part of the natural flora in Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amelanchier ovalis is characterized by its specialized existence within high-altitude environments, specifically occupying an elevational range that reaches up to 1900 m AMSL. This species thrives in diverse montane landscapes, finding its niche within dense forests, along forest edges, and across mountain terrains. Additionally, it is frequently found inhabiting shrubberies, suggesting an adaptability to varying levels of vegetative density and light availability within these elevated ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Amelanchier ovalis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a dual classification of life forms, manifesting as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, which indicates its ability to maintain its shoot system at varying heights above the ground surface. Furthermore, the species is deciduous, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Amelanchier ovalis is characterized by a woody growth habit that exhibits both shrub and herb-like qualities. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a vine or liana, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amelanchier ovalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a mean leaf size of 4.238 cm², reflecting its specific morphological adaptations to its environment. Furthermore, it possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 112.77 cm²/g, a physiological parameter that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and biomass density.

Leaf size mean:

4.238 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

112.77 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amelanchier ovalis is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized biological interactions. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May. During the flowering stage, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is notably absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as berries. These fruits have an average length of 0.7 cm and an average width of 0.73 cm. The dispersal of the plant is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fleshy fruit and disperse the seeds. The resulting seeds exhibit significant variation in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.0046 g to a maximum of 0.15625 g, with a mean seed mass of 0.079138 g. Furthermore, the seed volume remains consistent across measurements, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 2.8 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.73 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.15625 g

Seed mass mean:

0.079138 g

Seed mass min:

0.0046 g

Seed volume max:

2.8 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Amelanchier ovalis 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 fruit.

Fruit

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemicals

Amelanchier ovalis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include p-Hydroxybenzoic.

p-Hydroxybenzoic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Activities

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

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Conditions

Amelanchier ovalis has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, aging, cancer, cardiovascular diseases.

Alzheimer's disease

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Parkinson's disease

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Aging

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cardiovascular diseases

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Oxidative stress

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Amelanchier ovalis has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include berry extract, extract, extracts, extracts isolated from.

Berry extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Extracts isolated from

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR