California mountain ash

Sorbus californica Greene

Sorbus californica, known as California mountain ash, is a species of rowan in the Rosaceae family. It is native to California, Nevada, and Oregon, and was first described in 1900. This species can grow as a tree or shrub, characterized by compound leaves with teeth extending nearly the entire length. It bears orange-red fruit and is frequently mistaken for S. sitchensis, a similar species with fewer-toothed leaflets and pinkish fruit.

Description

Sorbus californica is a member of the Rosaceae family and is part of the Sorbus genus, which includes various rowan species. It is found in the western United States, specifically in California, Nevada, and Oregon. The plant is distinguished by its compound leaves, which are nearly entirely toothed from the base to the tip. Its fruit is orange-red, and it is often confused with S. sitchensis, another western North American species that has leaflets with fewer teeth and produces pinkish fruit.