Rowan berries, but a true berry is a simple fruit produced from a single ovary, whereas a pome is an accessory fruit. Rowan is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species; see Lepidoptera that feed on "Sorbus". The best-known species is the European rowan "Sorbus aucuparia", a small tree typically 4–12 m tall growing in a variety of habitats throughout northern Europe and in mountains in southern Europe and southwest Asia. Its berries are a favourite food for many birds and are a traditional wild-collected food in Britain and Scandinavia. It is one of the hardiest
× Sorbaronia mitschurinii also marketed for their antioxidant properties. Other intergeneric hybrids within tribe Maleae that include "Sorbus" as one of the parents are: × Sorbaronia mitschurinii × "Sorbaronia mitschurinii, also known as Sorbaronia mitschurinii", is a domesticated species that was known until recently under the name "Aronia mitschurinii". It has been considered to be a group of cultivars of "Aronia melanocarpa", common ones including 'Viking' and 'Nero'. Genetic testing indicates it is likely a hybrid between "A. melanocarpa" and "Sorbus aucuparia" (mountain ash) that apparently originated in cultivation. It has been suggested that "Sorbaronia mitschurinii" is the product of Russian pomologist Ivan