Biology
provided by Arkive
Rowan gets its alternative name of mountain ash from its abundance in upland areas and from the shape and pattern of its leaves, which resemble its unrelated namesake. It produces a large crop of vivid orange berries, popular with humans as well as birds. There is a long history of superstition connected with this tree and it his believed to have certain magical powers. In Scotland, for instance, it is considered unlucky to cut down a rowan.
Wild service tree, service tree and whitebeam also produce fruit, but they rarely ripen in the British climate and it is thought that these trees spread mainly from shoots or suckers. The fruit has been eaten in many parts of the country but it has to be left to go rotten, or 'bletted' before they are edible. Wild service tree's 'chequers' and whitebeam fruit have also been used for making alcoholic liquor, no doubt sold in the many Chequers Inns.
Conservation
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The various rare whitebeam species are included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme whilst S. leyana is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans. Work on these species is limited, primarily, to protecting the sites where they occur and carrying out genetic studies to ascertain their provenance. It is highly likely that other curious and isolated varieties of Sorbus may be discovered in isolated, and almost inaccessible parts of the British Isles.
Description
provided by Arkive
The genus of Sorbus trees comprises a widely differing group. The family includes rowan, also known as the mountain ash Sorbus aucuparia, wild service tree S. torminalis, service tree S. domestica, and whitebeam S. aria. Their sizes range from 5 m for some of the isolated and exposed varieties, up to 25 m in the case of the wild service tree. Their leaves also display a wide variety of shapes, some resembling the ash and others with a similar appearance to maple or hornbeam.
Whitebeam is notorious for producing local varieties, some of these restricted to a handful of individuals confined to an extremely small area. There are believed to be about 14 separate species, but it is possible that new varieties will continue to be discovered - or even evolve - on inaccessible cliffs the British Isles.
Habitat
provided by Arkive
The requirements of these different species vary from acid soil to crumbling limestone rock.
Range
provided by Arkive
Rowan is found all over Britain, chiefly on acid or light soils. Wild service tree is confined, largely, to southern England and seems to be an indicator of ancient woodland and hedgerow. Its stronghold is in the area of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire known as the Weald, and here there seems to be a curious connection. The berries of the tree are known locally as 'chequers' from their speckled markings, and were popular as food. These berries may have been the source of the name of 'Chequers Inn', many examples of which exist in this South-East corner of England.
The discovery of the range of the service tree is an intriguing and complicated story. It is now believed that the tree was once fairly common over Wales, the South-West and the Midlands but, until quite recently, the only 'wild' specimen was thought to exist in the Wyre Forest. Then a relic population of wild trees was discovered on cliffs in South Glamorgan. From their location it is certain they were not 'planted' by humans as has happened in collections and arboreta elsewhere in England. Some botanists have suggested that other cliff-faces in the south of England should be examined to see if more undiscovered populations exist.
Whitebeam, in its various local forms, is found in isolated places throughout England, Scotland and Wales. One of these species, S. leyana, is limited in its range to a few shrubs growing near Merthyr Tydfil in Brecon whilst, S. wilmottiana is found only in the Avon Gorge near Bristol.
The four main species, aria, aucuparia, torminalis and domestica are found throughout central and southern Europe.
Status
provided by Arkive
Not listed
Threats
provided by Arkive
Rowan is a common species, more particularly as it has been planted as an amenity tree in gardens and along residential streets in towns and cities, as have whitebeams.
The other species, it seems, have never been particularly common in the UK, particularly the 14 'micro' species. It is quite possible that they are on the northern edge of their range, especially in the case of the whitebeam. It is difficult to assess whether they are truly endangered in the accepted sense, as it is by no mean certain that they were ever common in this county. Sorbus domestica is rare and may have declined considerably in recent years.
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
Foodplant / sap sucker
adult of Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale sucks sap of Sorbus
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Actinocladium anamorph of Actinocladium rhodosporum is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Amphisphaeria millepunctata is saprobic on dead twig of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Alysidium anamorph of Botryobasidium aureum is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / open feeder
epiphyllous larva of Caliroa cerasi grazes on leaf of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 6-9
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Cercophora caudata is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 8-3
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Catenularia dematiaceous anamorph of Chaetosphaeria innumera is saprobic on fallen, dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Claussenomyces atrovirens is saprobic on damp, rotting wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: mostly 4-6
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Coccomyces coronatus is saprobic on dead leaf of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 8-11
Foodplant / gall
larva of Contarinia floriperda causes gall of flower bud of Sorbus
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / gall
larva of Contarinia sorbi causes gall of leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, often in rings under bark perithecium of Coronophora gregaria is saprobic on dead twig of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Corynespora dematiaceous anamorph of Corynespora cambrensis is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 3-5
Foodplant / open feeder
gregarious larva of Croesus septentrionalis grazes on live leaf edge of Sorbus
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
sporodochium of Cryptocoryneum dematiaceous anamorph of Cryptocoryneum condensatum is saprobic on dead bark of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Dactylaria anamorph of Dactylaria candidula is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-4
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial stroma of Daldinia concentrica is saprobic on wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Haplographium dematiaceous anamorph of Dematioscypha dematiicola is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / saprobe
Foveostroma anamorph of Dermea ariae is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 2-5
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, often loosely grouped perithecium of Diaporthe eres is saprobic on wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Diaporthe impulsa is saprobic on dead, often still attached branch of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
widely effused stroma of Diatrype stigma is saprobic on dead, decorticate or with bark rolling back branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Dictyosporium dematiaceous anamorph of Dictyosporium toruloides is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Diplococcium dematiaceous anamorph of Diplococcium spicatum is saprobic on dead, often rotting wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / pathogen
Dothichiza anamorph of Dothiorella pyrenophora infects and damages live branch (small) of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 3-4
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Endophragmiella dematiaceous anamorph of Endophragmiella ellisii is saprobic on dead wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / gall
Eriophyes pyri causes gall of live leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / pathogen
Erwinia amylovora infects and damages flower of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
tendril-forming Cytospora coelomycetous anamorph of Eutypella sorbi is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Acrogenospora dematiaceous anamorph of Farlowiella carmichaeliana is saprobic on dead bark of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 2-4
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Graphium dematiaceous anamorph of Graphium calicioides is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Grifola frondosa parasitises live root of Sorbus
Foodplant / gall
hypophyllous aecium of Gymnosporangium clavariiforme causes gall of live leaf of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 7-9+
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / gall
aecium of Gymnosporangium confusum causes gall of live fruit of Sorbus
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Gymnosporangium cornutum parasitises live leaf of Sorbus
Plant / resting place / within
ovum of Hoplocampa ariae may be found in ovary of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Hyaloscypha leuconica is saprobic on dead wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse stroma of Hypoxylon multiforme is saprobic on dead, decorticate branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 10-4
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial perithecium of Lasiosphaeria canescens is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 11-6
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial perithecium of Lasiosphaeria hirsuta is saprobic on old wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-4
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial, closely packed in large clusters perithecium of Lasiosphaeria spermoides is saprobic on rotting wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 11-4
Foodplant / saprobe
often crowded, immersed then usually transversely erumpent, plurilocular stroma of Cytospora coelomycetous anamorph of Leucostoma persoonii is saprobic on dead twig of Sorbus
Foodplant / miner
larva of Magdalis barbicornis mines below cambium of dead twig of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Sporoschisma dematiaceous anamorph of Melanochaeta aotearoae is saprobic on rotten wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial, often in very large clusters pseudothecium of Melanomma pulvis-pyrius is saprobic on dry, hard, decorticate branch wood of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / saprobe
sporodochium of Tubercularia anamorph of Nectria cinnabarina is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent stroma of Nectria coccinea is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Nectria galligena is saprobic on Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Nectria mammoidea var. mammoidea is saprobic on fallen, dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Nectria viridescens is saprobic on bark of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Geniculosporium dematiaceous anamorph of Nemania serpens is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous, subepidermal uredium of Ochropsora ariae parasitises live leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / roller
larva of Pamphilius sylvaticus rolls leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Perenniporia fraxinea is saprobic on live trunk (base) of Sorbus
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Pezizellaster serratus is saprobic on bark (inner surface) of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 4
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Phellinus pomaceus is saprobic on dead Sorbus
Foodplant / feeds on
Phyllobius glaucus feeds on Sorbus
Foodplant / gall
Phyllocoptes sorbeus causes gall of leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecia of Podosphaera clandestina var. aucupariae parasitises live shoot (young) of Sorbus
Foodplant / feeds on
Polydrusus cervinus feeds on Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Postia tephroleuca is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed trunk (large) of Sorbus
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Priophorus pallipes grazes on leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Proliferodiscus pulveraceus is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 6-9
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, exposed by peeling back or shedding of host periderm apothecium of Propolis farinosa is saprobic on dead branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12 (best condition: 2-3)
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Protounguicularia barbata f. resinacea is saprobic on dead, fallen wood of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Pseudospiropes dematiaceous anamorph of Pseudospiropes subuliferus is saprobic on dead bark of Sorbus
Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Rhogogaster chlorosoma grazes on leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Rhogogaster punctulata grazes on leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Spadicoides dematiaceous anamorph of Spadicoides bina is saprobic on dead bark of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Sporidesmium dematiaceous anamorph of Sporidesmium folliculatum is saprobic on fallen branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 3-11
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Sporoschisma dematiaceous anamorph of Sporoschisma juvenile is saprobic on bark of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Taeniolella dematiaceous anamorph of Taeniolella scripta is saprobic on Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Taeniolina anamorph of Taeniolina scripta is saprobic on dead bark of Sorbus
Foodplant / open feeder
nocturnal larva of Tenthredo livida grazes on leaf of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, sometimes confluent sporodochium of Trimmatostroma dematiaceous anamorph of Trimmatostroma betulinum is saprobic on fallen branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 2-5
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent through bark, often in large clusters apothecium of Tympanis conspersa is saprobic on dead twig of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 1-7
Foodplant / saprobe
subgregarious to densely scattered, covered then erumpent, blackish grey with paler roundish flat disc stroma of Cytospora coelomycetous anamorph of Valsa ambiens is saprobic on branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 10-5
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, in groups of about 10 perithecium of Valsa ceratosperma is saprobic on branch of Sorbus
Remarks: season: 11-3
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Virgaria dematiaceous anamorph of Virgaria nigra is saprobic on bark of Sorbus
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Xylohypha dematiaceous anamorph of Xylohypha ferruginosa is saprobic on wood of Sorbus
Sorbus
provided by wikipedia EN
Sorbus is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of Sorbus (s.l.) are commonly known as whitebeam, rowan (mountain-ash) and service tree. The exact number of species is disputed depending on the circumscription of the genus, and also due to the number of apomictic microspecies, which some treat as distinct species, but others group in a smaller number of variable species. Recent treatments[1][2][3][4] classify Sorbus in a narrower sense to include only the pinnate leaved species of subgenus Sorbus, raising several of the other subgenera to generic rank.
Sorbus is not closely related to the true ash trees which belong to the genus Fraxinus, although the leaves are superficially similar.
Genus
As treated in its broad sense, the genus is divided into two main and three or four small subgenera (with more recent generic assignments in parentheses):
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Sorbus subgenus Sorbus (genus Sorbus s.s.), commonly known as the rowan (primarily in the UK) or mountain-ash (in Ireland, North America and the UK), with compound leaves usually hairless or thinly hairy below; fruit carpels not fused; the type is Sorbus aucuparia (European rowan). Distribution: cool-temperate Northern Hemisphere. (Genus Sorbus s.s.)
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Sorbus subgenus Aria (genus Aria), the whitebeam, with simple leaves usually strongly white-hairy below (hence the name, from German Weissbaum, 'white tree'); fruit carpels not fused; the type is Sorbus aria (common whitebeam). Distribution: temperate Europe & Asia.
-
Sorbus subgenus Micromeles (genus Micromeles), an indistinct group of a few east Asian species (e.g. Sorbus alnifolia, Korean whitebeam) with narrow leaves; doubtfully distinct from and often included in subgenus Aria. Distribution: temperate northeast Asia.
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Sorbus subgenus Cormus (genus Cormus), with compound leaves similar to subgenus Sorbus, but with distinct fused carpels in the fruit; just one species, Sorbus domestica (True Service Tree). Distribution: North Africa, warm-temperate Europe, West Asia.
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Sorbus subgenus Torminaria (genus Torminalis), with rather maple-like lobed leaves with pointed lobes; fruit carpels not fused; just one species, Sorbus torminalis (Wild Service Tree). Distribution: temperate Europe, south to the mountains of North Africa and east to the Caucasus ranges.
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Sorbus subgenus Chamaemespilus (genus Chamaemespilus), a single shrubby species Sorbus chamaemespilus (false medlar) with simple, glabrous leaves and pink flowers with erect sepals and petals. Distribution: mountains of southern Europe.
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Sorbus subgenus Umbellata (genus Umbellata), Sorbus umbellata ssp. flabellifolia has oval with saw-like indentations along the upper edges of the leaf. It produces an edible but not high quality fruit. Distribution: mountains of Lebanon and specifically Ehden and Shouf Nature Reserves at elevations between 1300 and 1800 meters.
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Hybrids are common in the genus, including many between the subgenera; very often these hybrids are apomictic (self-fertile without pollination), so able to reproduce clonally from seed without any variation. This has led to a very large number of microspecies, particularly in western Europe (including Britain) and parts of China.
Sorbus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moth species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Sorbus. Sorbus domestica is used to flavour some apple wines, see Apfelwein.
Species
Uses
Ornamental trees
Sorbus species are cultivated as ornamental trees for parks and gardens and as avenue trees, and have given rise to several cultivars. The following, of mixed or uncertain parentage, have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit:[5]
- ’Eastern Promise’[6] (purple autumn colour, pink berries)
- ’Leonard Messel’[7] (small tree to 4m, pink berries)
- ’Wisley Gold’ [8] (yellow berries)
Gallery
References
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^ Robertson, K. R., J. B. Phipps, J. R. Rohrer, and P. G. Smith. 1991. A Synopsis of Genera in Maloideae (Rosaceae). Systematic Botany 16: 376–394.
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^ McAllister, H. 2005. The Genus Sorbus: Mountain Ash and Other Rowans. Richmond, Surrey, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
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^ Potter, D., T. Eriksson, R. C. Evans, S.-H. Oh, J. E. E. Smedmark, D.R. Morgan, M. S. Kerr, and C. S. Campbell. (2007). Phylogeny and classification of Rosaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 266(1–2): 5–43.
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^ Campbell C. S., R. C. Evans, D. R. Morgan, T. A. Dickinson, and M. P. Arsenault. 2007. Phylogeny of subtribe Pyrinae (formerly the Maloideae, Rosaceae): Limited resolution of a complex evolutionary history. Pl. Syst. Evol. 266: 119–145.
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^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 98. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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^ "RHS Plantfinder - Sorbus 'Eastern Promise'". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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^ "RHS Plantfinder - Sorbus 'Leonard Messel'". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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^ "RHS Plantfinder - Sorbus 'Wisley Gold'". Retrieved 12 November 2018.
9. Sorbus Umbellata [1] 10. Sorbus Umbellata [2]
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Sorbus: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Sorbus is a genus of over 100 species of trees and shrubs in the rose family, Rosaceae. Species of Sorbus (s.l.) are commonly known as whitebeam, rowan (mountain-ash) and service tree. The exact number of species is disputed depending on the circumscription of the genus, and also due to the number of apomictic microspecies, which some treat as distinct species, but others group in a smaller number of variable species. Recent treatments classify Sorbus in a narrower sense to include only the pinnate leaved species of subgenus Sorbus, raising several of the other subgenera to generic rank.
Sorbus is not closely related to the true ash trees which belong to the genus Fraxinus, although the leaves are superficially similar.
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- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
