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Amelanchier ovalis
Also called Serviceberry
Amelanchier ovalis, commonly known as snowy mespilus (a name which is also attached to the related A. lamarckii) or serviceberry, is a deciduous shrub in the family Rosaceae. Its pome fruits are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The species is native to central and southern Europe, as well as North Africa and the Middle East.
Amelanchier ovalis can be found in prealpine and submediterranean climates reaching from colline to sub-alpine zones. The most southern place with recorded plants is in Morocco, the most eastern place is in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. Plants have been observed in the Valais in Switzerland at an elevation of 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and in the Atlas Mountains at 2,800 m (9,200 ft).
Amelanchier ovalis can be used for land restoration and afforestation, thanks to its pioneer features. The berries can be eaten fresh, although they taste rather bland. More often they are processed for jam, compote or spirits.
Saskatoon serviceberry · Common serviceberry · Asian Serviceberry · Oblongfruit serviceberry · Canadian serviceberry · Serviceberry · Low serviceberry · Pacific serviceberry · Intermediate Shadbush · Allegheny serviceberry · Nantucket serviceberry · Coastal serviceberry
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Amelanchier ovalis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
