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Amelanchier laevis

Wieg.

Allegheny Serviceberry

G5Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161261
Element CodePDROS050F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusAmelanchier
Synonyms
Amelanchier laevis var. nitida(Wieg.) Fern.
Other Common Names
Allegheny serviceberry (EN) Amélanchier glabre (FR) Smooth Serviceberry (EN) Smooth shadbush (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-08
Change Date2015-09-22
Edition Date2024-08-08
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Amelanchier laevis is a large shrub or small tree native to eastern North America. With a large range extent, more than 1,500 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Amelanchier laevis is native to the northeastern United States, southern Canada, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, from Minnesota to Newfoundland and south to Georgia (FNA 2014). It is also planted as an ornamental tree in Europe. Range extent was estimated to be 3.9 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be more than 1,500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Amelanchier laevis is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Amelanchier laevis grows in dry to moist, deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests, balds, fields, thickets, and roadsides (FNA 2014, Weakley 2024).

Ecology

Amelanchier laevis is a host plant for Red-Spotted Purple and Viceroy butterflies (NCCE 2024).

Reproduction

Butterflies and other insects nectar at the blooms. Bees are attracted to the flowers. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, ruffed grouse, small mammals, and large mammals (NCCE 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedShrubland/chaparralOld fieldBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Prince Edward IslandS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
QuebecS4Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS4Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
District of ColumbiaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
West VirginiaS4Yes
GeorgiaS3Yes
New JerseyS4Yes
VirginiaS4Yes
AlabamaSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
IowaSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
North CarolinaS3Yes
KentuckyS3Yes
IndianaS5Yes
South CarolinaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undeterminedUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (7)
North Carolina (4)
AreaForestAcres
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
West Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2014b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 9. Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 713 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  6. North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NCCE). 2024. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.