northern mountain ash

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dogberry
• northern mountain-ash
• showy mountain-ash
• Greenland Mountain-ash
• Showy Rowan

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrus decora
• Sorbus americana var. decora
• Sorbus groenlandica
• Sorbus americana var. groenlandica
• Sorbus subvestita
• Aucuparia subvestita
• Sorbus decora var. groenlandica
• Pyrus subvestita
• Pyrus americana var. decora
• Pyrus groenlandica
• Pyrus decora var. groenlandica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Sorbus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several northern regions of North America. In the Subarctic American territories, it can be found throughout Greenland and Nunavut. Its presence extends into Western Canada, specifically within the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Additionally, the species is documented in the Eastern Canadian region of Labrador. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subarctic environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Sorbus decora is characterized by its nature as a perennial, meaning it lives for many years and undergoes multiple seasonal growth cycles to reach maturity. Its developmental trajectory begins with the germination of seeds, typically following a period of dormancy, leading to the establishment of a woody structure capable of sustained long-term survival. As a perennial species, it invests significant energy into developing a robust root system and permanent woody stems, allowing it to endure various environmental fluctuations and regrow each spring. Throughout its extended lifespan, the plant progresses through various reproductive stages, eventually producing flowers and fruits that facilitate the dispersal of seeds to ensure the continuation of subsequent generations.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sorbus decora is characterized by its woody nature and diverse growth habits, manifesting as both a tree and a shrub. This species exhibits a significant stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 16.06 m. Regarding its structural support, the plant is categorized as self-supporting, rather than being an obligatory or facultative climber.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

16.06 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sorbus decora is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a trait common among temperate woody perennials. In this process, carbon dioxide is initially fixed by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to form a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy allows the plant to efficiently utilize light energy and moisture in its specific ecological niche, though it makes the plant susceptible to photorespiration under conditions of high temperature or restricted stomatal conductance. The plant's physiological efficiency is closely tied to its ability to regulate gas exchange and transpiration, ensuring that the carbon assimilation required for growth and the production of secondary metabolites is balanced against water loss through the leaf epidermis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sorbus decora is characterized by specific seed morphologies and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.00357 g to a maximum of 0.0036 g, resulting in a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 0.0123516666666667 g. These seeds are primarily distributed via a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate their movement and spread within the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

0.0036 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0123516666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00357 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sorbus decora 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. PeerJ

Chemicals

Sorbus decora has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, 23-Hydroxybetulin, Uvaol, betulinic acid, glucose.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

23-Hydroxybetulin

1. Planta medica

Uvaol

1. Planta medica

betulinic acid

1. Planta medica

glucose

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Sorbus decora has 13 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu.

Antidiabetic

1. PeerJ
2. Planta medica

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Sorbus decora has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance.

Antidiabetic

1. PeerJ

Hyperglycemia

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hyperinsulinemia

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Insulin resistance

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Sorbus decora has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extracts of the bark, ethanolic crude extract.

Ethanol extracts of the bark

1. Planta medica

Ethanolic crude extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM