| Aronia prunifolia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Aronia |
| Species: | A. × prunifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Aronia× prunifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
Synonymy
| |
Aronia × prunifolia, called thepurple chokeberry, is a North American hybrid shrub ofAronia arbutifolia ×Aronia melanocarpa in therose family. It is native to eastern Canada and to the eastern and central United States, fromNova Scotia west toOntario andWisconsin, south as far as westernSouth Carolina with an isolated population reported in southernAlabama.[1]
Some authors consider this to be a hybrid rather than a full-fledged species but it does grow in places where neither parent is present (most of Michigan for example). This independence merits acceptance as a full species. This sort of thing is not unusual; many species of plants originated as hybrids.[2]
Aronia × prunifolia is a branching shrub forming clumps by means of stems forming from the roots. Flowers are white or pink, producing purple fruits. The fruits are very astringent - widely considered unpalatable - when raw, but can be used to make jams and jellies. The common name "Chokeberry" refers to the phenomenon that tasting the raw fruits can cause choking.[3]
