Editing Amelanchier (section)

==Description==
The various species of ''Amelanchier'' grow to {{cvt|0.2–20|m}} tall; some are small trees, some are multistemmed, clump-forming shrubs, and yet others form extensive low shrubby patches ([[vegetative reproduction|clones]]). The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is gray or less often brown, and in tree species smooth or fissuring when older. The [[leaf|leaves]] are deciduous, cauline, alternate, simple, lanceolate to elliptic to orbiculate, 0.5–10 x 0.5–5.5&nbsp;cm, thin to coriaceous, with surfaces above glabrous or densely tomentose at flowering, and glabrous or more or less hairy beneath at maturity.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The [[inflorescence]]s are terminal, with 1–20 flowers, erect or drooping, either in clusters of one to four flowers, or in [[raceme]]s with 4–20 flowers. The [[flowers]] have five white (rarely somewhat pink, yellow, or streaked with red), linear to orbiculate petals, 2.6–25&nbsp;mm long, with the petals in one species (''A. nantucketensis'') often andropetalous (bearing apical microsporangia adaxially). The flowers appear in early spring, "when the [[shad]] run" according to North-American tradition (leading to names such as "shadbush"). The [[fruit]] is a berry-like [[pome]], red to purple to nearly black at maturity, 5–15&nbsp;mm diameter, insipid to delectably sweet, maturing in summer.<ref name=umaine/>

''Amelanchier'' plants are valued horticulturally, and their fruits are important to wildlife. Some orchards are cultivated in the [[Canadian Prairies|Canadian prairie provinces]] which are subjected to severe winter cold of {{cvt|-60|C|F}}, indicating the [[Hardiness (plants)|hardiness]] of the plant having a lifespan up to 50 years.<ref name=canada/>