| A Tree that is Named for a Fish! |
| Location: At entrance to
Ovalwood Hall |
| This is a Shadbush, also known as
a Downy Serviceberry. Its scientific name is Amelanchier arborea, a member of
the Rose Family or Rosaceae. This is a shrub or a small tree that
can grow up to 40 feet tall, and on occasion even much taller.
The trees often have multiple trunks which make them favorites of
landscape architects. The bark is relatively smooth in younger
trees with a very subtle stripe pattern. Shadbush gets its name from a fish! Shad live in coastal Atlantic waters but migrate upstream in early Spring to spawn. This migration coincides with the blooming of the Shadbush and was a signal to fishermen that they could catch shad in the freshwater streams. The tree also got its name Serviceberry from its early Spring bloom period when traveling preachers would come to small settlements to conduct memorial services for those who had died during the Winter months when travel to memorial services would have been very difficult. This native of eastern North America prefers sun and partial shade in moist, yet well-drained soil, with minimal dry spells. The leaves on the Shadbush are alternate, simple, 1 - 3 inches long and pinnately veined. Leaf margins have very tiny teeth. The showy flowers produced by the Shadbush add color to the forest in May and early June. They have five green sepals and five long, white petals. The flowers are produced just before or with the leaves. The red to purple berries found on the Shadbush attract 40 species of birds when they are ripe, usually in June. The berries are small and hang in small clusters. These berries are edible, but may be the best kept secret in the woods. They can be processed into pies, jellies, jams, syrups, or wine. The plains Indians used the berries to make pemmican, a staple food consisting of dried lean meat, fat, and dried berries. -- Brandi Stover
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