Mountain Ash and Whitebeam
The mountain ash grows in western and central Europe from lowland to high mountain elevations up to the tree line, and, in northern Europe, even beyond the Arctic Circle. It is resistant to frost, thrives on poorer soils and is important as a pioneer tree which, because it is distributed by birds, quickly covers burned and logged areas. It reaches a height of only 15 to 20 metres. The bark is smooth and grey-brown, the buds are elongate, dark brown with greyish hairs.
The wild service tree reaches a height of 20 to 25 metres and because it may live 200 to 300 years, one may come across the occasional, robust specimen with a vast broad crown. The bark is furrowed in squares, the buds are spherical, lustrous yellow-green. The leaves may take on red tints in autumn. The white flowers are borne in erect panicles 6 to 8 centimetres across. The brown fruits are edible following the first frost.
The mountain ash, and its several cultivated varieties, is also popular for planting alongside roads as an ornamental for its spring flowers and bright autumn coloration. The wood has little durability.
The whitebeam is widespread in southern, central and western Europe, including Great Britain, the southern tip of Sweden marking the northernmost limit of its range. Throughout this area, however, it occurs fairly sparsely. A light-demanding and warmth-loving species, it is often found growing on chalk or limestone hills facing south. In such conditions, it may be found at elevations even over 1000 metres.
Unlike the mountain ash, the reddish brown bark is longitudinally fissured, even in the young tree. The leaves, odd-pinnate, and grey-downy beneath until midsummer, appear about 14 clays later than in the mountain ash. The service tree begins to bear flowers and fruit at the age of 25 to 35 years, sometimes sooner.
The crab apple thrives best in moist fertile soils, and requires ample light for good growth. It is the main species, and has given rise to many cultivated varieties. Fruit-growers to this day use it as a frost-resistant dwarfing rootstock for grafting the garden varieties. In the wild, its fruit is eaten by forest animals, and many of its lovely, richly coloured, flowering forms are frequently planted in parks as ornamentals.
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peut-on faire de la gelée avec les fruits du sorbier sweedish mountain ash .
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