Luis: Rowan or Mountain Ash
Subgenus Sorbus
Keying-out the Subgenus Sorbus 3
-Leaves broad and flat, or sword-like.
-Leaves are compound (not simple or sword-like), divided into leaflets (Note location of buds)
-Compound leaves are alternate (not opposite)
-Leaflet margins toothed (serrate), not smooth (entire). Sometimes with only two large teeth at base of lower leaflets.
-Lower leaflets with more than four teeth per leaflet. Seeds not winged.
-Leaflet-blade margins regularly toothed (not conspicuous irregularly or doubly toothed). Seeds when mature not in papery bladders.
-Leaves once (not twice) compound. Seeds, when mature, not in yellow cherry like fruit.
-Leaf stalk and leaf scar definitely below side bud (not surrounding most of it) on branchlets; no milky sap present when leaf removed.
-Leaflets all similar size and shape (not differing sizes). Flowers white, with five petals, conspicuous. Fruit berry-like. Stipules present at base of new petioles. Fruit small (about 1cm), apple like in appearance.
Summary 3
The rowans or mountain-ashes are shrubs or trees in the genus Sorbus of the rose family Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomictic microspecies occur. The name rowan was originally applied to the species Sorbus aucuparia and is also used for other species in the Sorbus subgenus Sorbus. Rowans are unrelated to the true ash trees, which belong to the genus Fraxinus, family Oleaceae, though their leaves are superficially similar.
Formerly, when a wider variety of fruits were commonly eaten in Europe and North America, Sorbus was a domestically used fruit throughout these regions. It is still used in some countries, but Sorbus domestica, for example, is now all but extinct in Britain, where it was traditionally revered. http://www.wbrc.org.uk/WORCRECD/Issue7/whittyp.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan
rowan (n.) http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=rowan
"mountain ash," 1804, from rowan-tree, rountree (1540s), northern English and Scottish, from a Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse reynir, Swedish Ronn "the rowan"), ultimately from the root of red, in reference to the berries.
There were those in this neighbourhood, long after the beginning of the present century, who believed that a slip of rowan tree carried on their person dispelled glamour, and rendered nugatory all the powers of sorcery and witchcraft. [Alexander Laing, "Lindores Abbey and the Burgh of Newburgh," Edinburgh, 1876]
Druid Lore 3
Luis (pronounced “LWEESH”), the letter L. A few of protection, discernment, and inner clarity, symbolized by the rowan or mountain ash tree; the choice between insight and ignorance.
The Druidry Magic Handbook, 2007 by John Michael Greer, Red Wheel/Weiser.
Word Ogham of Morann mac Main: “Delight of the eye”
Word Ogham of Cú Chulainn: “Strength of cattle, that is, the elm”
Word Ogham of Mac ind Óic: “Friend of cattle”
Calendar attribution: Second month, 21 January–17 February; includes Imbolc, 2 February
The Druidry Handbook, 2006 by John Michael Greer, Red Wheel/Weiser.
More information at http://aoda.org
Observations by Druids 3
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3957254
Sources and Credits
- (c) urbanharvester, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
- (c) urbanharvester, all rights reserved
- (c) urbanharvester, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
