Japanese rowan

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese rowan

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrus commixta
• Pyrus commixta f. angustissima
• Sorbus commixta f. pilosa
• Sorbus japonica var. rufoferruginea
• Pyrus wilfordii
• Pyrus cunonioides
• Sorbus amurensis f. rufa
• Sorbus serotina
• Sorbus wilfordii
• Sorbus chionophylla
• Sorbus amabilis
• Sorbus pohuashanensis f. latifoliolata
• Sorbus commixta f. angustissima
• Sorbus commixta var. pilosa
• Pyrus horti-edeni
• Pyrus reflexipetala
• Sorbus commixta var. rufoferruginea
• Sorbus commixta var. sachalinensis
• Sorbus commixta var. takasui
• Sorbus commixta var. typica
• Sorbus aucuparia var. japonica
• Sorbus macrophylla
• Sorbus heterodonta
• Sorbus pruinosa
• Sorbus reflexipetala
• Sorbus rufoferruginea
• Sorbus americana var. japonica
• Sorbus americana subsp. japonica
• Sorbus amurensis var. lanata
• Sorbus amurensis var. latifoliolata
• Sorbus amurensis f. latifoliolata
• Sorbus amurensis var. rufa
• Sorbus americana var. rufoferruginea
• Sorbus amabilis var. wuyishanensis
• Pyrus commixta f. microphylla
• Pyrus aucuparia var. japonica
• Pyrus americana var. micrantha
• Pyrus americana var. rufoferruginea
• Pyrus micrantha var. macrophylla

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across various parts of Eastern Asia. In the Russian Far East, its range extends to the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. The species is also well-established within China, specifically in the South-Central and Southeast regions. Furthermore, its presence is noted throughout Japan, rounding out its regional coverage. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's significant footprint across the northeastern Asian landscape.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sorbus commixta is closely tied to montane environments, where it predominantly thrives within forest ecosystems and mountainous terrains. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 900 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. On average, the plant is situated at a mean elevation of 1450 m AMSL, positioning it within temperate forest belts that provide the necessary structural stability and moisture levels characteristic of high-altitude habitats.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Life history

The life history of Sorbus commixta is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its regenerative buds well above the ground level, typically atop woody stems or branches, which allows it to withstand various environmental conditions. This phanerophyte life form strategy is a defining feature of its structural development, facilitating its growth into a robust woody structure that persists over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sorbus commixta is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This terrestrial species typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 8 meters, with an average height of approximately 10 meters. As a self-supporting woody plant, it does not function as a climber and maintains a stable, upright structural habit.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of Sorbus commixta are closely tied to its leaf morphology and carbon fixation processes. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is characteristic of many temperate woody species, dictating its metabolic approach to carbon assimilation and water use efficiency. The leaves exhibit specific dimensional variations, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 6.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 5.25 cm. Complementing these longitudinal dimensions, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, defining the overall structural surface area available for light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf length max:

6.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.25 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sorbus commixta is characterized by a specific flowering window and the development of fleshy fruits containing specialized seeds. The flowering period typically occurs in June, with the inflorescence measuring between 0.08 m and 0.1 m in length. The individual flowers are relatively small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that vary slightly in size; the fruit length ranges from 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm (with a mean of 0.65 cm), while the fruit width spans from 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm (with a mean of 0.65 cm). Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit specific physical properties, featuring a mean mass of approximately 0.0054 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0036 g to a maximum of 0.00901 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is distributed between a minimum of 4.8 mm³ and a maximum of 16 mm³, maintaining a mean volume of 10.4 mm³.

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.7 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Seed mass max:

0.00901 g

Seed mass mean:

0.005426667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0036 g

Seed volume max:

16 mm³

Seed volume mean:

10.4 mm³

Seed volume min:

4.8 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sorbus commixta has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, stem.

Fruit

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Stem

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Sorbus commixta has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, CHLOROGENIC ACID, CHLOROPHYLL, FE, Fe EDTA.

CALCIUM

1. International journal of molecular sciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

CHLOROPHYLL

1. International journal of molecular sciences

FE

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Fe EDTA

1. International journal of molecular sciences

FeSO4

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Iron sulfate (FeSO4)

1. International journal of molecular sciences

MAGNESIUM

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Activities

Sorbus commixta has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular medicine

Medicinal Uses

Sorbus commixta has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, bronchitis, cough.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations