Tien-Shan mountain ash
Sorbus tianschanica
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A large shrub or small tree. It grows 3-5 m tall. It has a wide crown. The young shoots are greenish-brown and have some hairs. Older shoots are reddish and have thin bark that peels off. The leaves are compound with an odd number of leaflets. They are 10-16 cm long. There are 6 to 8 pairs of leaflets. The flowering groups are very large. They are loose and 10-15 cm wide with 25-30 flowers. The fruit are 12 mm across. They are yellow-red when young and become dark red at maturity. They are edible.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Kazakhstan it grows near the upper edges of fir forests at 2,000-3,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten and are best after frosts.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds, layering or root sprouts.
Its other names
Local names
Chetani