Sorbus aucuparia

Rowan

Blatt (CC BY-SA 4.0) Alice Kracht

Short Description

Rowan is a deciduous tree or shrub that can grow up to 16 m tall. The crown is rounded and sparse.

The leaves grow alternately on the stem. Each leaf is made up from individual smaller leaflets (pinnate, feather-like appearance). The leaves are elongated with sharply serrated margins. The underside is greyish-green and covered in downy hairs.

The bark is generally greyish, smooth and shiny.

The flowers are yellowish-white in colour. They are clustered in large, umbrella-shaped flower heads. Their scent can be perceived as unpleasant.

The fruits are red, spherical and clustered in thick bunches.

Features

Rowan

Sorbus aucuparia
  • bright red berries

  • pinnate (feather-like) leaves

Habitus (PD) Botaurus

In the city

The rowan is often found in gardens and backyards. It is a popular ornamental tree, as its bright red fruits and dark branches make it stand out even in winter. The rowan prefers light to semi-shady locations.

Fun Facts

  • It flowers from May to June.

  • The fruit ripening season is from July to October.

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
  • The fruits are edible. However, they have an astringent sour and slightly bitter taste.

Fruchtstand (CC BY-SA 3.0) Simon A. Eugster

Sources

Blatt, Alice Kracht, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://offene-naturfuehrer.de/web/Datei:Sorbus_aucuparia2_(1).JPG

Habitus, Botaurus, PD, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorbus-aucuparia-bei-Gatschow-27-07-2008-094.jpg

Fruchtstand, Simon A. Eugster, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sorbus_aucuparia_with_fruits.jpg

Aas, G. & Riedmiller, A. (2002) Laubbäume. Bestimmen – Kennenlernen – Schützen, Bindlach: Gondrom Verlag.

Amann, G. & Richter, P. (1962) Bäume und Sträucher des Waldes, Melsungen: Verlag J. Neumann – Neudamm.

Quartier, A. (1989) Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.

Page „Vogelbeere“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 31.05.2016, 20:42 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vogelbeere&oldid=154878319 (Accessed: 03.06.2016).