Sorbus intermedia
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| Sorbus intermedia (Ehrh.) Pers. |
Sorbus intermedia (Swedish Whitebeam) is a species of whitebeam native to the Baltic Sea region in southern Scandinavia (southern Sweden, easternmost Denmark (Bornholm) and the far southwest of Finland), the Baltic States, and northern Poland.[1][2]
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 10–20 m tall with a stout trunk up to 60 cm diameter and grey bark; the crown is dome-shaped, with stout horizontal branches. The leaves are green above, and densely hairy with pale grey-white hairs beneath, 7–12 cm long and 5–7 cm broad, with four to seven oval lobes on each side of the leaf, broadest near the middle, rounded at the apex, and finely serrated margins. The autumn colour is dull yellowish to grey-brown. The flowers are 15–20 mm diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens; they are produced in corymbs 8–12 cm diameter in late spring. The fruit is an oval pome 15 mm long and 10 mm diameter, orange-red to red, maturing in mid autumn. The fruit is dryish, and eaten by thrushes and waxwings, which disperse the seeds.[1][3]
It is closely related to Sorbus hybrida (Finnish Whitebeam), which differs in having the leaves more deeply lobed, with the basal two pairs cut right to the midrib as separate leaflets. Both are tetraploid apomictic species which breed true without pollination, and ultimately of hybrid origin between Sorbus aria and Sorbus aucuparia or possibly Sorbus torminalis.[1][4]
[edit] Cultivation and uses
It is widely grown as an ornamental tree in northern Europe, valued for its tolerance of urban street conditions; it is very commonly used in avenues and urban parks.[1] It is frequently naturalised in the British Isles.[5] In recent years, much new planting of "Swedish Whitebeam" has actually been of the related Sorbus mougeotii (Vosges Whitebeam), another apomictic species from further south in Europe that has more erect branching, less deeply lobed leaves with whiter undersides to the leaves, and darker red fruit.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ^ Den Virtuella Floran: Sorbus intermedia (in Swedish; with maps)
- ^ Mitchell, A. F. (1974). A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6.
- ^ Bean, W. J. (1980). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.
- ^ Flora of NW Europe: Sorbus intermedia
- ^ Hansen, K. F. (1985). Bornholmsk røn, Seljerøn, vogeserrøn. Haven 85 (7/8): 421-423 (in Danish).
