Question: Hello - I'm a bit late in the season with this, but am trying to understand the differences within Amelanchier …
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Question
Hello - I'm a bit late in the season with this, but am trying to understand the differences within Amelanchier here on upper Cape Cod. This one taken May 10 was above the Mashpee River steep wooded bank, maybe 7-8 ft tall, somewhat exposed to weather perhaps despite some oak and pitch pine cover. I have what I believe is A. arborea wild in my Mashpee yard, but this one might have had more stems/trunks, maybe.
Answer
Dear Corylus, good morning. The plant may be Amelanchier arborea. The summit of the ovary (which partly concealed by the stamens in your close view of the flowers would need to be glabrous (i.e., devoid of hairs) for that species. You can assess this in fruit if you revisit the plants. I would also like to see a petal length measurement to be more certain (the petals should be longer than 12 mm to be that species, shorter than this and it suggests another). Best wishes.
