Amelanchier spp.
Rosaceae
Serviceberry

The genus Amelanchier contains about 16 species native to North America [5], Mexico [2], and Eurasia to northern Africa [4]. The word amelanchier is derived from the French common name amelanche of the European serviceberry, Amelanchier ovalis.

Amelanchier alnifolia juneberry, Pacific serviceberry, pigeonberry, rocky mountain servicetree, sarvice, sarviceberry, saskatoon, saskatoon serviceberry, western service, western serviceberry, western shadbush

Amelanchier arborea Allegheny serviceberry, apple shadbush, downy serviceberry, northern smooth shadbush, shadblow, shadblown serviceberry, shadbush, shadbush serviceberry

Amelanchier bartramiana Bartram serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis American lancewood, currant-tree, downy serviceberry, Indian cherry, Indian pear, Indian wild pear, juice plum, juneberry, may cherry, sugar plum, sarvice, servicetree, shadberry, shadblow, shadbush, shadbush serviceberry, shadflower, thicket serviceberry

Amelanchier florida Pacific serviceberry

Amelanchier interior inland serviceberry

Amelanchier sanguinea Huron serviceberry, roundleaf juneberry, roundleaf serviceberry, shore shadbush

Amelanchier utahensis Utah serviceberry

Distribution: In North America throughout upper elevations and temperate forests.

The Tree: Serviceberry is a shrub or tree that reaches a height of 40 ft (12 m) and a diameter of 2 ft (0.6 m). It grows in many soil types and occurs from swamps to mountainous hillsides. It flowers in early spring, producing delicate white flowers, making it a good ornamental shrub. It produces smooth to scaly bark, and red to purple pear-shaped fruits.

General Wood Characteristics: The wood of serviceberry is brown and is as hard and heavy as persimmon, but of smaller size. It is close grained and takes a satiny finish. The heartwood is reddish brown, marked with red streaks, and has a lighter colored sapwood.


Weighta                                     

                                 Weight       

Moisture         Specific     lb/ft3    kg/m3  
content           gravity                      

Green              0.66         61       977   

12%                0.74         52       833   

Ovendry            0.79         NA       NA    

aReference (59).                            




Mechanical propertiesa                                          

Property              Green                       Dry             

MOE        1.64  106       11.307 GPa   1.88   106     12.963 GPa   
           lbf/in2                      lbf/in2                     

MOR        9.60  103      66.192 MPa    16.9  103      116.526 MPa  
           lbf/in2                      lbf/in2                     

C| |       4.08  103      28.132 MPa    8.77  103      60.469 MPa   
           lbf/in2                      lbf/in2                     

C          0.78  103       5.378 MPa    1.79  103       12.342 MPa  
           lbf/in2                      lbf/in2                     

WML        16.2           111.699       18.9           130.316      
           in-lbf/in3     kJ/m3         in-lbf/in3     kJ/m3        

Hardness   1,240 lbf      5,515.52 N    1,800 lbf      8,006.40 N   

Shear| |   1.26  103      8.687 MPa     159  103       10.963 MPa   
           lbf/in2                      lbf/in2                     

aReference (59).                                                




Drying and shrinkagea                    

                Percentage of shrinkage   
                (green to final moisture  
                        content)          

Type of          0% MC     6% MC    20% MC  
shrinkage                                   

Tangential        10.8       NA       NA    

Radial             6.7       NA       NA    

Volumetric        18.7       NA       NA    

a Reference (59).                        



Kiln Drying Schedule: No information available at this time.

Working Properties: No information available at this time.

Durability: No information available at this time.

Preservation: No information available at this time.

Uses: Tool handles, fishing rods.

Toxicity: No information available at this time.

Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106.