Genus: Amelanchier — shadbush

It is difficult to identify species of Amelanchier, but it is much easier with flowering material. Also, make sure to look at leaves from normal branches and not from stump sprouts; leaves on sprouts can have different leaf teeth and vein characters from those on normal leaves. Since different species have different environmental requirements, pay attention to the habitat of your species and to the other kinds of plants growing with it. Species form hybrids readily and so intermediate characteristics will often be found. Much variation occurs within a species due to differing numbers of chromosome sets in different races. References: Wiegand (1912), Jones (1946).

Family

Rosaceae (rose family)

This genus’s species in New England

• Amelanchier arborea
• Amelanchier bartramiana
• Amelanchier canadensis
• Amelanchier gaspensis
• Amelanchier humilis
• Amelanchier intermedia
• Amelanchier laevis
• Amelanchier nantucketensis
• Amelanchier sanguinea
• Amelanchier spicata

Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key

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