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Sorbus aucuparia - L.

Mountain Ash

Author	L.	Botanical references	11, 17, 200
Family	Rosaceae	Genus	Sorbus
Synonyms	Pyrus aucuparia - (L.)Gaertn.
Known Hazards	Large quantities of the raw fruit can cause vomiting, especially if people are not used to the fruit. 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.
Range	Europe, including Britain, south and east from Iceland to Spain, Macedonia and the Caucasus.
Habitat	Woods, scrub and mountain rocks, mainly on lighter soil, rare or absent on clays or soft limestones. It is found at higher elevations than any other native tree[17].
Edibility Rating	2 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Tree growing to 15m by 7m at a medium rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Canopy;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Beissneri'
'Edulis'
'Rossica Major'

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit; Leaves.

Edible Uses: Coffee; Tea.

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 3, 5, 7, 9]. The fruit is very acid and large quantities of the raw fruit can cause stomach upsets[10, 13]. It can be used to make delicious, if slightly acidulous, jams and preserves[7], the fruit can also be dried and used as a flour mixed with cereals[2, 66]. The fruit is about 7.5mm in diameter[200] and is produced in quite large bunches making harvest easy[K]. The leaves and flowers are used as a tea substitute[61, 183]. Young leaves are said to be a famine food but they contain a cyanogenic glycoside so you should be very hungry before even thinking of eating them[179]. A coffee substitute[183]. The report was referring to the fruit, it probably means the roasted seed.

Medicinal Uses

Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Astringent; Diuretic; Laxative.

The bark is astringent, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and as a vaginal injection for leucorrhoea etc[4]. The fruit is antiscorbutic and astringent[4, 7]. It is normally used as a jam or an infusion to treat diarrhoea and haemorrhoids[254]. An infusion can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash to treat haemorrhoids and excessive vaginal discharge[254]. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which, in reaction with water, produce the extremely toxic prussic acid[254]. In small quantities this acts as a stimulant to the respiratory system but in larger doses can cause respiratory failure and death[K]. It is therefore best to remove the seeds when using the fruit medicinally or as a food[254]. Both the flowers and the fruit are aperient, mildly diuretic, laxative and emmenagogue[9, 13, 21]. An infusion is used in the treatment of painful menstruation, constipation and kidney disorders[9].

Other Uses

Cosmetic; Dye; Oil; Shelterbelt; Tannin; Wood.

An oil is obtained from the seed[13]. A cosmetic face-mask is made from the fruits and is used to combat wrinkled skin[7]. A black dye is obtained from the young branches[74]. All parts of the plant contain tannin and can be used as a black dye[4]. Trees are very wind resistant and can be used in shelterbelt plantings[11, 200]. Wood - hard, fine grained, compact and elastic. It is highly recommended by wood turners and is also used to make hoops for barrels, cogs and furniture[7, 13, 61, 74, 113].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most reasonably good soils in an open sunny position[11]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates some shade[186], though it fruits better in a sunny position[K]. Prefers a cool moist position and a lighter neutral to slightly acid soil[11, 13, 200]. Dislikes shallow soils or drought[11, 200]. Succeeds on chalk or acid peats[98, 186]. A very wind firm tree tolerating very exposed and maritime positions[186, 200]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[200]. Some named varieties have been developed for their improved fruits which are larger and sweeter than the type[183]. Plants, and especially young seedlings, are quite fast growing[186]. The fruit is very attractive to birds. 28 species of insects are associated with this tree[186]. Responds well to coppicing[186]. Plants are susceptible to fireblight[188].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[78, 80]. If you have sufficient seed it can be sown in an outdoor seedbed[78, 80]. Stored seed germinates better if given 2 weeks warm then 14 - 16 weeks cold stratification[98], so sow it as early in the year as possible. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Seedlings are very slow to put on top-growth for their first year or two[11], but they are busy building up a good root system. It is best to keep them in pots in a cold frame for their first winter and then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring.

Cultivars

'Beissneri'

This cultivar has larger fruits than the species. The fruit has a pleasant taste, it is sour but not bitter[11]. It is used for making jams and preserves[11].

'Edulis'

This cultivar has larger fruits than the species. The fruit has a pleasant taste, it is sour but not bitter[11]. Just about acceptable raw to adult tastes, though young children usually love it[K]. It is used for making jams, jellies, wines and preserves[11, 183]. Fourteen 30 year old trees yielded 205 kilos of fruit[11].

'Rossica Major'

This cultivar has larger and more pleasant tasting fruits than the species[11, 183]. The fruit has a pleasant taste, it is sour but not bitter[11]. It is used for making jams and preserves[11]. The trees are immune to fireblight[183].

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[3] Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[5] Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[10] Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8
A small book, reasonable but not very detailed.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[13] Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[66] Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[80] McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.

[98] Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 0
Very comprehensive guide to growing trees and shrubs from seed. Not for the casual reader.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[186] Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979
An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.

Readers Comments

Sorbus aucuparia

Harald Fri Feb 4 11:29:56 2000

Do you know the east German cultivars of Sorbus aucuparia moravica: 'Concentra' and 'Rosina'? They were widly used in this country as substitutes for raisins ( Rosina) and orange juice ( Concentra). There is also a cultivar of Chaenomeles japonica 'Cido', also called litauvian lemmon. Its of higher vitamin C content than the species.

Sorbus aucuparia

Fri Aug 20 17:28:36 2004

looking for Rowan leaves need a few for a project do you have any idea where i might find them i live in the united states and if you can help please contact me @ adventurer4203@earthlink.net

Sorbus aucuparia

Mon Mar 21 20:43:17 2005

Link: horticlick

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