Envoy at 18:50, 13 September 2007

2007-09-13T18:50:24Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Rowan
| image = Rowanberries in late August 2004 in Helsinki.jpg
| image_width = 270px
| image_caption = European Rowan fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Maloideae]]
| genus = ''[[Sorbus]]''
| subgenus = '''''Sorbus'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
'''''Sorbus'' subgenus ''Sorbus''''' 
''[[Sorbus aucuparia]]'' - European Rowan 
''[[Sorbus americana]]'' - American mountain ash 
''[[Sorbus cashmiriana]]'' - Kashmir Rowan 
''[[Sorbus commixta]]'' - Japanese Rowan 
''[[Sorbus decora]]'' - Showy mountain ash 
''[[Sorbus glabrescens]]'' - White-fruited Rowan 
''[[Sorbus hupehensis]]'' - Hubei Rowan 
''[[Sorbus matsumurana]]'' 
''[[Sorbus sargentiana]]'' - Sargent's Rowan 
''[[Sorbus scalaris]]'' - Ladder Rowan 
''[[Sorbus sitchensis]]'' - Sitka mountain ash 
''[[Sorbus vilmoriniana]]'' - Vilmorin's Rowan 
Plus several other species 
'''''Sorbus'' subgenus ''[[Whitebeam|Aria]]''''' 
'''''Sorbus'' [[Sorbus|Other subgenera]]'''</td></tr>
}}

{{otheruses}}

The '''rowans''' are [[plant]]s of the Family [[Rosaceae]], in the [[Genus]] ''[[Sorbus]]'', Subgenus '''''Sorbus'''''. 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 [[apomixis|apomictic]] microspecies occur.

Rowans are mostly small [[deciduous]] [[tree]]s 10-20 m tall, though a few are [[shrub]]s. The [[leaf|leaves]] are arranged alternately, and are [[pinnate]], with (8)-11-35 leaflets. The [[flower]]s are borne in dense [[corymb]]s; each flower is creamy white, and 5-10 mm across with five petals.

[[Image:Sorbus glabrescens.jpg|left|thumb|White-fruited Rowan ''Sorbus glabrescens'', a Chinese species with pure white fruit]]
The [[fruit]] is a small [[pome]] 4-8 mm diameter, bright orange or red in most species, but pink, yellow or white in some Asian species. The fruit are soft and juicy, which makes them a very good food for [[bird]]s, particularly [[waxwing]]s and [[thrush (bird)|thrushes]], which then distribute the rowan [[seed]]s in their droppings. Rowan is used as a food plant by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species - see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Sorbus]].

The best known species is the '''European Rowan''', ''Sorbus aucuparia'', a small tree typically 4-12 m tall growing in a variety of habitats throughout northern [[Europe]] and in [[mountain]]s in southern Europe and southwest [[Asia]]. Its berries are a favourite food for many birds and are a traditional wild-collected food in [[UK|Britain]] and [[Scandinavia]]. It is one of the hardiest [[Europe]]an trees, occurring to 71° north in [[Vardø]] in arctic [[Norway]], and has also become widely [[naturalized]] in northern [[North America]].

North American native rowans include the '''American mountain ash''' ''Sorbus americana'' and '''Showy mountain ash''' ''Sorbus decora'' in the east and '''Sitka mountain ash''' ''Sorbus sitchensis'' in the west.

The greatest diversity of form as well as the largest number of species is in [[Asia]], with very distinctive species such as '''Sargent's Rowan''' ''Sorbus sargentiana'' with large leaves 20-35 cm long and 15-20 cm broad and very large corymbs with 200-500 flowers, and at the other extreme, '''Small-leaf Rowan''' ''Sorbus microphylla'' with leaves 8-12 cm long and 2.5-3 cm broad. While most are trees, the '''Dwarf Rowan''' ''Sorbus reducta'' is a low [[shrub]] to 50 cm tall. Several of the Asian species are widely cultivated as ornamental trees.

For other ''Sorbus'' species, see [[whitebeam]] (''Sorbus'' subgenus ''[[Whitebeam|Aria]]'') and the genus article ''[[Sorbus]]''.

==Uses==
[[Image:Ripening rowan cropped2.jpg|thumb|Ripening European Rowan berries.]]
Rowans are excellent small ornamental trees for [[park]]s, [[garden]]s and [[wildlife]] areas. Several of the Chinese species, such as White-fruited rowan (''S. glabrescens'') are popular for their unusual berry colour, and Sargent's rowan (''S. sargentiana'') for its exceptionally large clusters of fruit. They are very attractive to fruit-eating birds, which is reflected in the old name "bird catcher". The wood is dense and used for carving and turning and for tool handles and walking sticks.

===Mythology & folklore===
The European rowan (''S. aucuparia'') has a long tradition in European mythology and folklore. It was thought to be a magical tree and protection against malevolent beings.

The density of the rowan wood makes it very usable for walking sticks and [[wand|magician's staves]]. This is why druid staffs, for example, have traditionally been made out of rowan wood, and its branches were often used in [[dowsing rod]]s and [[magic wands]]. Rowan was carried on vessels to avoid storms, kept in houses to guard against lightning, and even planted on graves to keep the deceased from haunting. It was also used to protect one from [[witch]]es <ref>[[Sir James Frazer]], [[The Golden Bough]], p620, Papermac Edition, 1987, ISBN 0-333-43430-7</ref>. Often birds' droppings contain rowan seeds, and if such droppings land in a fork or hole where old leaves have accumulated on a larger tree, such as an [[oak]] or a [[maple]], they may result in a rowan growing as an [[epiphyte]] on the larger tree. Such a rowan is called a "'''flying rowan'''" and was thought of as especially potent against witches and their [[black magic|magic]], and as a counter-charm against sorcery <ref>[[Sir James Frazer]], [[The Golden Bough]], p702, Papermac Edition, 1987, ISBN 0-333-43430-7</ref>. Rowan's alleged protection against enchantment made it perfect to be used in making [[Runic calendar|rune staves]] (Murray, p. 26), for metal divining, and to protect cattle from harm by attaching sprigs to their sheds.

In Finland and Sweden, the number of berries on the trees was used as a predictor of the [[snow]] cover during [[winter]]. While this has been considered mere superstition, one hypothesis has been presented that genuine efficacy might stem from the [[causality|causal connection]] of amount of berries and the amount of [[rain]]fall during [[summer]]. While in general no absolute connection between summer rainfall and snowfall in winter can be made, it is conceivable that in certain specific [[microclimate]]s there might be some [[prediction|predictive]] value therein. This interpretation is supported by the fact that in some geographical areas, rowans replete with berries were thought to signify a thick snow cover, in others many berries meant very little snow.

Leaves and berries were added to [[divination incense]] for better [[scrying]].

===Folk-medicinal uses===
Fresh rowan berry juice is usable as a laxative, gargle for sore throats, inflamed tonsils, hoarseness, and as a source of [[vitamin]]s [[vitamin A|A]] and [[vitamin C|C]]. Rowan berry jam will remedy diarrhea. An infusion of the berries will benefit [[hemorrhoid]]s and [[strangury]]. The bark can also be used as an astringent for loose bowels and vaginal irritations. Rowan is also used for eye irritations, spasmic pains in the uterus, heart/bladder problems, neuralgia, gout and waist constrictions.

===Rowan berries as food===
[[Image:DSCF1465.JPG|thumb|Rowan berries on [[Prince Edward Island]].]]
Rowan berries can be made into a slightly bitter [[fruit preserves|jelly]] which in [[UK|Britain]] is traditionally eaten as an accompaniment to [[game (food)|game]], and into [[jam]]s and other preserves, on their own, or with other fruits. The berries can also be a substitute for [[coffee]] beans, and have many uses in [[alcoholic beverage]]s: to flavour [[liqueur]]s and [[cordial]]s, to produce [[country wine]], and to flavour [[ale]].

Rowan [[cultivar]]s with superior fruit for human food use are available but not common; mostly the fruits are gathered from wild trees growing on public lands.

Rowan berries contain [[sorbic acid]], an acid that takes its name from the Latin name of the genus ''Sorbus''. Raw berries also contain [[parasorbic acid]] (about 0.4%-0.7% in the European rowan<ref>O Raspe, C Findlay, AL Jacquemart. ''Sorbus aucuparia L.'' The Journal of Ecology, 2000</ref>), which causes [[indigestion]] and can lead to [[kidney]] damage, but [[heat]] treatment ([[cooking]], heat-[[drying (food)|drying]] etc.) and, to a lesser extent, [[freezing]], [[neutralise]]s it, by changing it to the benign sorbic acid. Luckily, they are also usually too astringent to be palatable when raw. Collecting them after first frost (or putting in the freezer) cuts down on the bitter taste as well.

==Etymology, and other names==
[[Image:Rowan flowers-oliv.jpg|right|thumb|Rowan flowers]]
The name "rowan" is derived from the [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] name for the tree, ''raun'' or ''rogn''. Linguists believe that the Norse name is ultimately derived from a [[proto-Germanic]] word *''raudnian'' meaning "getting red" and which referred to the red foliage and red berries in the autumn. Rowan is one of the most familiar wild trees in the [[British Isles]], and has acquired numerous English folk names. The following are recorded folk names for the rowan: Delight of the eye (Luisliu), Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quicken (tree), Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Round wood, Round tree, Royne tree, Rune tree, Sorb apple, Thor's helper, Whispering tree, Whitty, Wicken-tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Witch wood, Witchbane, Witchen, Witchen tree. Many of these can be easily linked to the mythology and folklore surrounding the tree. In [[Goidelic|Gaelic]], it is Rudha-an (''red one'', pronounced quite similarly to English "rowan").

One somewhat confusing name for the rowan, used in both the UK and [[North America]], is "[[Sorbus|mountain ash]]", which implies that it is a species of [[Ash tree|ash]] (''Fraxinus''). The name arises from the superficial similarity in [[leaf]] shape of the two trees; in fact, the rowan does not belong to the [[Oleaceae|ash family]], but is closely related to the [[apple]]s and [[Crataegus|hawthorn]]s in the [[Rosaceae|rose family]].

==Notes and references==
<references />

==See also==

*[http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.rowan.html Internet Celebrity]

==External links==
{{Commons|Sorbus}}
*[http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.rowan.html Species profile: Rowan]
*[http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.mythrowan.html Mythology and Folklore of the Rowan]
*[http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/soam3.htm ''Sorbus americana'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu]

[[Category:Accessory fruit]]
[[Category:Maloideae]]

Rowan - Revision history

Envoy at 18:50, 13 September 2007