Amelanchier humilis

Wiegand

Rhodora 14: 141, plate 95, figs. 2A–G. 1912.

Common names: Low shadbush amélanchier bas
Endemic
Synonyms: Amelanchier humilis var. campestris E. L. Nielsen A. humilis var. compacta E. L. Nielsen A. humilis var. exserrata E. L. Nielsen A. mucronata
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 9. Treatment on page 656. Mentioned on page 649, 651, 653, 654, 655, 658, 660, 661.

Shrubs, to 1.5 m (sometimes to 8 m in shaded conditions). Stems 1–50, rhizomatous or suckering and forming scattered colonies. Leaves partly to fully unfolded; petiole (5–)9.3–16.7(–24) mm; blade elliptic or oblong to ovate or obovate, (20–)31–47(–62) × (12–)21–35(–45) cm, base rounded to cordate, each margin with (0 or)1–6(–13) teeth on proximal 1/2 and (0–)3–6(–9) teeth in distalmost cm, largest teeth more than 1 mm, apex broadly subacute to rounded and mucronate, abaxial surface densely hairy by flowering, surfaces sparsely (moderately) hairy (or glabrous) later. Inflorescences (5–)7–11(–14)-flowered, (12–)18–32(–51) mm. Pedicels: (0 or)1(or 2) subtended by a leaf, proximalmost (4–)6–11(–16) mm. Flowers: sepals spreading to recurved after flowering, (1–)1.6–2.7(–3.6) mm; petals to ivory, obovate-oblong, (4.3–)5.9–8.7(–11.3) × (1.4–)2.3–3.9(–5) mm; stamens (14–)18–21(–22); styles (3–)5, (1.8–)2.3–3(–3.6) mm; ovary apex densely hairy. Pomes almost black, 6–8 mm diam. 2n = 2x, 3x, 4x.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–May; fruiting Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Dry, open sites with rocky, gravelly, or sandy soil, calcareous soil
Elevation: 0–500 m

Distribution

V9 1127-distribution-map.jpg

Man., Ont., Que., Sask., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Md., Mich., Minn., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.Dak., Ohio, Pa., S.Dak., Vt., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Amelanchier humilis is distinctive in its strongly rhizomatous or suckering habit, erect inflorescences, leaf margins with three to six teeth on distal cm, and preference for basic or neutral soils. Amelanchier humilis was considered to be conspecific with A. spicata by G. N. Jones (1946). Occurrence of A. humilis in Saskatchewan, Kansas, and Nebraska is questionable, as no specimens were seen to confirm its presence there.

M. L. Fernald (1950) reported hybrids between Amelanchier humilis and A. arborea, A. bartramiana, and A. spicata. The authors have observed putative hybrids with A. amabilis.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Amelanchier humilis"
Christopher S. Campbell +, Michael B. Burgess +, Kevin R. Cushman +, Eric T. Doucette +, Alison C. Dibble +  and Christopher T. Frye +
Wiegand +
Low shadbush +  and amélanchier bas +
Man. +, Ont. +, Que. +, Sask. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, Md. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, Mo. +, Nebr. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.Dak. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, S.Dak. +, Vt. +, W.Va. +  and Wis. +
0–500 m +
Dry, open sites with rocky, gravelly, or sandy soil, calcareous soil +
Flowering Apr–May +  and fruiting Jul–Aug. +
Amelanchier humilis var. campestris +, A. humilis var. compacta +, A. humilis var. exserrata +  and A. mucronata +
Amelanchier humilis +
Amelanchier +
species +