Sorbus sitchensis

Sorbus sitchensis, commonly known as western mountain ash and Sitka mountain-ash, is a small species of shrub of northwestern North America.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 6 m high. The bark is smooth and light grey. The crown is rounded. The leaves are alternate and compound. There are 7-11 leaflets on a red central stalk. This stalk is 8-15 cm long. The leaflets are oval and 2-6 mm long. There are teeth towards the tip. They are dark green above and paler underneath. The fruit are small. They are 6-8 mm across. They occur in erect rounded clusters. The fruit are orange, red or purple. They are 10-12 mm across. They occur in small clusters 5-10 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked in pies and preserves, though it is of poor quality. It becomes sweeter and tastes best after a frost. Fruit is produced in clusters, with each individual fruit measuring about 6–12mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for jellies, marmalades, jams, wines and liqueurs. The fruit can be dried and stored.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the branches has been given to young children to treat bed-wetting, and a separate infusion of the branches has been used to treat weak kidneys and reduce frequent urination. An infusion of the root and branch bark has been drunk to treat stomach problems and rheumatism, and the same infusion can be applied externally as a bath for rheumatism. A decoction of the root and branch bark has been used as an eyewash. The bark has been chewed to treat colds.

Known Hazards

The seeds probably contain hydrogen cyanide. This is the ingredient that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. Unless the seed is very bitter it should be perfectly safe in reasonable quantities. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It reaches the alpine tree line in Canada.

Where It Grows

Alaska, Canada, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most reasonably good soils in an open sunny position. Dislikes dry soils. Tolerates light shade, though it fruits better in a sunny position. This species is able to succeed in poor soils and to become established on exposed broken ground, it is thus suitable for use as a pioneer species in re-establishing woodland. A slow-growing shrub in the wild, it can sometimes become a small tree up to 9 metres tall. It usually produces abundant crops of fruit every year. Plants are susceptible to fireblight.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, though with sufficient quantity it can go directly into an outdoor seedbed. Stored seed benefits from 2 weeks of warm stratification followed by 14–16 weeks of cold stratification, so sow as early in the year as possible. Prick seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle. Top-growth is very slow in the first year or two as the plants focus on root development, so keep them in a cold frame through their first winter before planting out into permanent positions in late spring.

Other Uses

This species tolerates exposed conditions and poor soils, making it a candidate as a pioneer plant in reforestation projects where it can help establish conditions suitable for other woodland trees, though its slow growth limits its use to situations where faster-growing species are less appropriate. The berries have been rubbed onto the scalp to treat lice. The wood is moderately light with little strength and holds no commercial value.

Notes

There are about 75 Sorbus species.

References (12)

• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
• Elias, T.S. & Dykeman P.A., 1990, Edible Wild Plants. A North American Field guide. Sterling, New York p 240
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 211
• Fam. nat. syn. monogr. 3:139. 1847
• Farrar, J.L., 1995, Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Iowa State University press/Ames p 224

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