Snowy mespilus
A white flower on the rocks
The snowy mespilus (Amelanchier ovalis, Rosaceae family) is a shrub that can reach a height of 3 meters, but is usually shorter and bushy. It has the habit of growing on rocky walls, but also on the edges of forests and in abandoned fields. It is very drought-resistant, light-loving, and spontaneously colonizes dry and steep slopes.
In spring, before the leaves emerge, its small white flowers appear. The flowering can be spectacular due to the large number of flowers, which attract bees and other pollinating insects with their fragrance
Snowy mespilus is found in the mountains of Europe up to about 2000 meters, as well as in North Africa and Asia Minor.
Did you know?
Since prehistoric times, the snowy mespilus has been used as fuel : in fact, carbonized remains dating back to the Paleolithic period have been found in some caves.
Photo User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.