View source for Chokeberry

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Chokeberry
| image = Aronia prunifolia0.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Purple Chokeberry
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Maloideae]]
| genus = '''''Aronia'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
''Aronia arbutifolia'' (L.) Pers.<br/>
''Aronia melanocarpa'' (Michx.) Elliott
}}

The '''chokeberries''' (''Aronia'') are two species of [[deciduous]] [[shrub]]s in the family [[Rosaceae]], native to eastern [[North America]] and most commonly found in wet woods and swamps. The two species are readily distinguished by their [[fruit]] color, from which the common names derive. The [[leaf|leaves]] are alternate, simple, and oblanceolate with crenate margins and pinnate venation; in autumn the leaves turn a bold red color. Dark trichomes are present on the upper midrib surface. The [[flower]]s are small, with 5 petals and 5 sepals, and produced in [[corymb]]s of 10-25 together. Hypanthium is urn-shaped. The fruit is a small [[pome]], with a very [[astringent]], bitter flavor; it is eaten by [[bird]]s (birds do not taste astringency and feed on them readily), which then disperse the [[seed]]s in their droppings. The name "chokeberry" comes from the astringency of the fruits which are inedible when raw.

''Aronia'' is closely related to ''[[Photinia]]'', and has been included in that genus in some classifications (Robertson et al. 1991).

'''Red chokeberry''', ''Aronia arbutifolia'', grows to 2-4 m tall, rarely up to 6 m. Leaves are 5-8 cm long and densely pubescent on the underside. The flowers are white or pale pink, 1 cm diameter, with glandular sepals. The fruit is red, 4-10 mm diameter, persisting into winter.

[[Image:Aronia-melanocarpa-Aron.JPG|thumb|left|Black Chokeberry (''Aronia melanocarpa'')]]
'''Black chokeberry''', ''Aronia melanocarpa'', tends to be smaller, rarely exceeding 1 m tall, rarely 3 m, and spreads readily by root sprouts. The leaves are smaller, not more than 6 cm long, with terminal glands on leaf teeth and a glabrous underside. The flowers are white, 1.5 cm diameter, with glabrous sepals. The fruit is black, 6-9 mm diameter, not persisting into winter.

The two species can [[hybrid]]ise, giving the '''Purple Chokeberry''', ''Aronia x prunifolia''. Leaves are moderately pubescent on the underside. Few to no glands are present on the sepal surface. The fruit is dark purple to black, 7-10 mm in diameter, not persisting into winter. <br clear = left>