Thursday, 9 May 2013

Sorbus aucuparia ; Rowan/Mountain Ash

They grow up to 20 metres tall. They grow in woodlands and open spaces on a variety of soils but not on very wet ones. I found this ash in Chorlton Ees in a dense woodland fighting for space among other small trees such as Betula pendula . They are also frequently found in town squares and along roadsides. 


 The branches are quite evenly spread and ascending. They also have purple-tinged twigs. 


The leaves are compound and pinnate. They are made up of 5-8 pairs of toothed leaflets. They are all up to 6cm long. They are ovoid and markedly toothed. 


The buds are oval with curved tips. They are purple and covered with greyish hairs. The fruits are rounded and 4-8cm long and a bright scarlet colour. They are often eaten in winter by birds as not a lot of food is around. When they are planted in cities and towns they often attract birds such as waxwings.
The bark is silvery grey and usually smooth but sometimes feels slightly ridged.



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