Rowan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Sorbus Subgenus: Sorbus
Species
Sorbus subgenus Sorbus Sorbus aucuparia - European rowan Sorbus americana - American rowan or 'mountain-ash' Sorbus cashmeriana - Kashmir rowan Sorbus commixta - Japanese rowan Sorbus decora - Showy rowan Sorbus glabrescens - White-fruited rowan Sorbus hupehensis - Hubei rowan Sorbus sargentiana - Sargent's rowan Sorbus scalaris - Ladder rowan Sorbus vilmoriniana - Vilmorin's rowan Plus many other species 'Sorbus subgenus Aria'' Other subgenera'''

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 The name 2.1 English folk names 3 Uses 3.2 Magical uses 3.3 Folk-medicinal uses 3.4 Rowan in recipes 4 External links

Introduction

The best known species is European rowan Sorbus aucuparia, but several other species from Asia in particular are widely cultivated as ornamental trees.

The berries are a favorite of birds, and are used in various places to make a jelly which is traditionally eaten with game.

See also Whitebeam (Sorbus subgenus Aria) and the Sorbus genus account for other Sorbus species.

The name

Etymologically, the name "Rowan" stems from the word "Runall", which means "a charm" in the old Norse language and "magician" in Sanskrit.

English folk names

One old name of the Rowan, "mountain ash" seems to imply it is an "ash", although it does not belong to the Ash family, and is much more related to the apple and Hawthorn. This name results from the superficial similarity in the leaves of the two trees.

The following list summarizes some known folk names of the Rowan tree:

1. Delight of the Eye (Luisliu)
2. Mountain Ash
3. Quickbane
4. Ran Tree
5. Roden-Quicken
6. Roden-Quicken-Royan
7. Round wood
8. Royne tree
9. Rudha-an (Scots Gaelic for Red One)
10. Rune tree
11. Sorb apple
12. Thor's helper
13. Whispering tree
14. Whitty
15. Wicken-tree
16. Wiggin
17. Wiggy
18. Wiky
19. Witchbane
20. Witchen
21. Witchen tree
22. Witch wood

Rowan is an excellent small ornamental tree for parks, gardens and wildlife areas. It is very attractive to fruit-eating birds like thrushes and waxwings, which is reflected in the old name "bird catcher". The wood is dense and used for carving and turning and for tool handles and walking sticks.

Magical uses

The Rowan tree has a long tradition in European mythology and folklore. It was thought to be a magical tree and protection against malevolent beings.

The density of the Rowan wood makes it very usable for walking sticks and magician staffss that additionally carry protective qualities for safe night journeys. This is why druid staffs, for example, have traditionally been made out of Rowan wood. The magic power that is ascribed to Rowan extends beyond simple protection, for it is said that Rowan wood will increase one's psychic powers, and its branches were often used in dowsing rods and magical wands.

Further, Rowan is carried on vessels to avoid storms, kept in houses to guard against lightning, and even planted on graves to keep the deceased from haunting. It is also used to protect one from witches or as wood to fuel the fire to burn witches (Frazer, p. 718). A Rowan growing out of another Rowan is called a "Flying Rowan" and is especially potent against witches and their magic, and as a counter-charm against sorcery (Frazer, p. 813-814). Rowan protects against enchantment and is used to make rune staves (Murray, p. 26), for metal divining, and to protect cattle from harm by arraching sprigs to their sheds. Leaves and berries are added to divination incense for better scrying.

Folk-medicinal uses

Fresh rowan berry juice is usable as a laxative, gargle for sore throats, inflamed tonsils, hoarseness, and as a source of vitamins A and C. Rowan berry jam will remedy diarrhea. An infusion of the berries will benefit hemorrhoids and strangury. The bark can also be used as an astringent for loose bowels and vaginal irritations. Rowan is also used for eye irritations, spasmic pains in the uterus, heart/bladder problems, neuralgia, gout, and waist constrictions.

Rowan in recipes

Rowan berries make an excellent slightly bitter-flavoured jelly, popular as an accompaniment to roast meats. They can be used as a substitute for coffee beans. It can be used to flavor liqueurs/cordials, and to make ale.

External links