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Sorbus

 
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Sorbus
 
 
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Sorbus is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of about 100–200 species of tree
TREE

TREE was a Boston hardcore punk band formed in the summer of 1990. They were active in the Boston music scene until disbanding in 2002....
s and shrub
Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticulture rather than strictly Botany category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall....
s in the subfamily Maloideae
Maloideae

The Maloideae is a large subfamily of the rose family Rosaceae with 28 genera, including approximately 1100 species worldwide with most species occurring in the temperate Northern Hemisphere....
 of the Rose family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Rosaceae
Rosaceae

The Rosaceae or rose family is a large family of plants, with about 3,000-4,000 species in 100-160 genera. Traditionally it has been divided into four subfamilies: Rosoideae, Spiraeoideae, Maloideae, and Amygdaloideae....
. Species of Sorbus (s.l.) are commonly known as whitebeam
Whitebeam

The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, in genus Sorbus subgenus Aria. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately....
, rowan
Rowan

The rowans or mountain-ashes are plants in the family Rosaceae, in the genus Sorbus, subgenus Sorbus. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomixis microspecies occur....
, service tree
Service Tree

Sorbus domestica is a species of Sorbus native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa , and southwest Asia .It is a deciduous tree growing to 15?20 m tall with a trunk up to 1 m diameter, though can also be a shrub 2?3 m tall on exposed sites....
, and mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia

Sorbus aucuparia , is a species of the genus Sorbus , native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia. In the south of its range in the Mediterranean region it is confined to high altitudes in mountains....
. The exact number of species is disputed depending on the circumscription of the genus, and also due to the number of apomictic
Apomixis

In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
 microspecies
Apomixis

In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
, which some treat as distinct species but others group in a smaller number of variable species. Recent treatments treat Sorbus in a narrower sense to include only the pinnate-leaved species of subgenus
Subgenus

In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. See rank and rank .In ICZN, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a binomen, in parentheses, placed between the name of a biological genus and specific name: e.g....
 Sorbus, raising several of the other subgenera to generic rank.

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 is a genus
Genus

A genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The taxonomic ranks are domain , kingdom , phylum, class , order , family , genus, and species....
 of about 100–200 species of tree
TREE

TREE was a Boston hardcore punk band formed in the summer of 1990. They were active in the Boston music scene until disbanding in 2002....
s and shrub
Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticulture rather than strictly Botany category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall....
s in the subfamily Maloideae
Maloideae

The Maloideae is a large subfamily of the rose family Rosaceae with 28 genera, including approximately 1100 species worldwide with most species occurring in the temperate Northern Hemisphere....
 of the Rose family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Rosaceae
Rosaceae

The Rosaceae or rose family is a large family of plants, with about 3,000-4,000 species in 100-160 genera. Traditionally it has been divided into four subfamilies: Rosoideae, Spiraeoideae, Maloideae, and Amygdaloideae....
. Species of Sorbus (s.l.) are commonly known as whitebeam
Whitebeam

The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, in genus Sorbus subgenus Aria. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately....
, rowan
Rowan

The rowans or mountain-ashes are plants in the family Rosaceae, in the genus Sorbus, subgenus Sorbus. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomixis microspecies occur....
, service tree
Service Tree

Sorbus domestica is a species of Sorbus native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa , and southwest Asia .It is a deciduous tree growing to 15?20 m tall with a trunk up to 1 m diameter, though can also be a shrub 2?3 m tall on exposed sites....
, and mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia

Sorbus aucuparia , is a species of the genus Sorbus , native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia. In the south of its range in the Mediterranean region it is confined to high altitudes in mountains....
. The exact number of species is disputed depending on the circumscription of the genus, and also due to the number of apomictic
Apomixis

In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
 microspecies
Apomixis

In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
, which some treat as distinct species but others group in a smaller number of variable species. Recent treatments treat Sorbus in a narrower sense to include only the pinnate-leaved species of subgenus
Subgenus

In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. See rank and rank .In ICZN, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a binomen, in parentheses, placed between the name of a biological genus and specific name: e.g....
 Sorbus, raising several of the other subgenera to generic rank.

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):

  • Sorbus subgenus Sorbus (genus Sorbus s.s.), commonly known as the rowan
    Rowan

    The rowans or mountain-ashes are plants in the family Rosaceae, in the genus Sorbus, subgenus Sorbus. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the mountains of western China and the Himalaya, where numerous apomixis microspecies occur....
     (primarily in the UK) or mountain ash (in both North America and the UK), with compound leaves usually hairless or thinly hairy below; fruit carpels not fused; type species Sorbus aucuparia
    Sorbus aucuparia

    Sorbus aucuparia , is a species of the genus Sorbus , native to most of Europe except for the far south, and northern Asia. In the south of its range in the Mediterranean region it is confined to high altitudes in mountains....
     (European rowan). Distribution: cool-temperate Northern Hemisphere
    Northern Hemisphere

    The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of the equator?the word sphere literally means 'half sphere'. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator....
    . (Genus Sorbus s.s.)


  • Sorbus subgenus Aria (genus Aria), the whitebeam
    Whitebeam

    The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, in genus Sorbus subgenus Aria. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately....
    , with simple leaves usually strongly white-hairy below (hence the name, from German Weissbaum, 'white tree'); fruit carpels not fused; type species Sorbus aria
    Sorbus aria

    Sorbus aria , the Whitebeam or Common Whitebeam is a deciduous tree, compact and domed, with few upswept branches; it generally favours dry limestone and chalk soils....
     (common whitebeam). Distribution: temperate Europe
    Europe

    Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
     & Asia
    Asia

    Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
    .


  • Sorbus subgenus Micromeles (genus Aria), an indistinct group of a few east Asian species (e.g. Sorbus alnifolia
    Sorbus alnifolia

    Sorbus alnifolia Alder-leafed Whitebeam or Korean Whitebeam; ) is a species of whitebeam native to eastern Asia in China, Korea and Japan....
    , Korean whitebeam) with narrow leaves; doubtfully distinct from and often included in subgenus Aria. Distribution: temperate northeast Asia
    Asia

    Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent. It covers 8.6% of the Earth's total surface area and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population....
    .


  • 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
    North Africa

    North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa.Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories:...
    , warm-temperate Europe
    Europe

    Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
    , West Asia.


  • 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
    Europe

    Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
    , south to the mountains of North Africa
    North Africa

    North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa.Geopolitically, the United Nations subregion of Northern Africa includes the following seven countries or territories:...
     and east to the Caucasus
    Caucasus

    The Caucasus or Caucas is a geopolitical region located between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is home to Europe's highest mountain ....
     ranges.


  • 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
    Europe

    Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
    .


  • Hybrids are common in the genus, including many between the subgenera; very often these hybrids are apomictic
    Apomixis

    In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
     (self-fertile without pollination), so able to reproduce clonally from seed without any variation. This has led to a very large number of microspecies
    Apomixis

    In botany, apomixis is asexual reproduction, without fertilization. In plants with independent gametophytes , apomixis refers to the formation of sporophytes by parthenogenesis of gametophyte cells....
    , particularly in western Europe (including Britain) and parts of China.


Sorbus species are used as food plants by the larva
Caterpillar

Caterpillars are the larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly phytophagous in food habit, with some species being entomophagous....
e of some moth
Moth

A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the Order Lepidoptera. The differences between butterflies and moths are more than just taxonomy....
 species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Sorbus.

Wine

Sorbus is also a strong Finnish fruit wine spiced with Sorbus berries.

Further reading

  • Price, D.T. 2007. One-way introgressive hybridisation between Sorbus aria and S. torminalis (Rosaceae) in southern Britain. Watsonia. 26: 419–431.