Plant Family: Rosaceae
Growth Form: Shrub from 1 to 3 meters tall.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptic to obovate, finely toothed, the apex coming to a sharp point, lateral veins curve to follow the margin, tiny glands are seen on the top surface of the midrib; lacking hairs beneath.
Bark: Brown and peeling.
Flowers: White, with 5 petals, about 1 cm across, in flat terminal clusters, May to June.
Fruits: Black juicy pomes to 1 cm in diameter; August to September.
Habitat: Swamps and damp woods, also in dry thickets and on bluffs and cliffs.
Range: Found throughout New England, north into eastern Canada and south in the Appalachians to northern Georgia.
Similar Species: Purple Chokeberry also has dark fruits, but the leaves are downy beneath. Red Chokeberry has red fruits.
Comments: The raw berries are edible but rather sour; they are grown commercially in both the U. S. and Europe, and harvested to make jams, juices, wine, and dietary supplements known for their high levels of antioxidants.
