Serviceberry -
Amelanchier arborea
This is a member of the Rose family and features the typical
flower with 5 petals and numerous stamen. One of this region's
earliest blooming trees, the common name is based on the fact
that the tree blooms at around the same time the winter weather
would ease enough for circuit riding preachers to travel. After
a long, isolated winter people could take part in church services,
weddings, funerals and so on. A common local pronunciation for
the tree is "Sarvisberry". On the coastal plain this
tree is known as the Shadbush because its bloom coincides with
the annual run of Shad, a small fish.
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