On my walk to work today (Brunswick, Maine) I past a tree that had bright orange berries fruiting. It looks like it is an American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana is the latin name). The following image and description come from the very terrific Arbor Day Foundation | Tree Planting Non-Profit website.
“The genus name of this tree is pretty straightforward. Sorbus is the Latin common name used by early Italian naturalist Pliny, for the group of trees he called ‘service trees’ or pears. The species name, americana, denotes it is an American native. This American mountainash is its most common name, but it has also been called: Rowantree, rowan berry, roundwood, mountain sumac, winetree, dogberry, service tree, wild ash, quickbeam, and missey-moosey, among others. No doubt each name has its own historical significance, but the most relevant is the “rowan,” commonly used to refer to the European mountainash, rowan is the German root word for red, referring to the tree’s red berries.” (American Mountainash: The Witchwood Tree | Arbor Day Foundation)
Interesting notes about it on the Arbor Day Foundation site — it keeps its berries throughout the winter, and they will ferment after a few frosts, which have led to reports of intoxicated birds. It was also believed to ward off witches.
References
Almanac for 2020-09-07
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