WILD FOODIES' HOME PAGE
PLANT PROFILE LIST

Sorbus americana Wien.jpg  Sorbus americana.jpg    Sorbus americana, Whitefish Island 2.JPG  Sorbus americana, Sault Ste Marie 3.JPG

 

NAME: Rowan

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Sorbus Americana / Rosaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  American mountain-ash

CONDITIONS: sun-partial shade
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

 

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

       

Stalk/Stem

 

 

 

 

Buds

       

Flowers

 

 

 

 

Fruits

 slightly/sweet

RAW/DRY/COOK

Sep-Oct

Pods

 

 

   

Seeds

 

 

 

 

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Roots

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: small-medium

 

COMMENT: Fruit - raw or cooked. Rich in iron and vitamin C. The fruit is used mainly in making pies, preserves etc, but it can also be eaten raw after a frost because it turns sweeter then. It can also be dried and ground into a meal. The fruit is produced in dense clusters and is up to 8mm in diameter.(1)

 

CAUTION: The fruit has a high tannin content and so should only be used in moderation if eaten raw. 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.(1)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Antiscorbutic;  Antiseptic;  Appetizer;  Astringent;  Blood purifier;  Digestive;  Diuretic;  Laxative;  Miscellany.(1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES / RELATED - https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Sorbus+aucuparia

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES:

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sorbus+americana
  2. https://www.eattheweeds.com/mountain-ash-rowan
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbus_americana
  4. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sorbus_americana (good photos)
  5. https://www.healthygreensavvy.com/mountain-ash-berries-rowan
  6. https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/rowan-berry
  7. https://foragerchef.com/rowanberries
  8. https://krebscreek.com/are-mountain-ash-berries-edible-everything-you-need-to-know
  9. https://practicalselfreliance.com/rowanberry