The whitebeams are members of the family

Rosaceae Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are ''Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...

, comprising subgenus ''Aria'' (or, according to some authorities, its own genus) of genus '' Sorbus'', and hybrids involving species of this subgenus and members of subgenera ''Sorbus'', ''Torminaria'' and ''Chamaemespilus''. They are deciduous trees with simple or lobed leaves, arranged alternately. They are related to the

rowan The rowans ( or ) or mountain-ashes are shrubs or trees in the genus ''Sorbus ''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, r ...

s (''Sorbus'' subgenus ''Sorbus''), and many of the endemic restricted-range apomictic microspecies of whitebeam in Europe are thought to derive from hybrids between ''S. aria'' and the European rowan ''S. aucuparia''; some are also thought to be hybrids with the wild service tree ''S. torminalis'', notably the service tree of Fontainebleau ''Sorbus latifolia'' in French woodlands. The best known species is the common whitebeam ''

Sorbus aria ''Sorbus aria'' ( syn. ''Aria nivea''), the whitebeam or common whitebeam, is a deciduous tree, the type species of the subgenus ''Sorbus'' subg. ''Aria'' of the genus ''Sorbus''. It is native to most of Europe as well as North Africa (Algeria, M ...

'', a columnar tree which grows to tall by broad, with clusters of white flowers in spring followed by speckled red berries in autumn (fall).

Appearance

The surface of the leaf is an unremarkable mid-green, but the underside is almost white (hence the name) transforming the appearance of the tree in strong winds, as noted by the poet Meredith: "flashing as in gusts the sudden-lighted whitebeam". It is also described as the "wind-beat whitebeam" in Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem "The Starlight Night".

Ecology

The berries are a favourite of birds, though less palatable (drier, less juicy) than rowan berries. Whitebeams are sometimes used as larval food plants by

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species, including the short-cloaked moth.

Uses

These trees are often grown in parks and large gardens. The

cultivars A cultivar is a type of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and when Plant propagation, propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and st ...

''S. aria'' 'Lutescens' and ''S. aria'' 'Majestica' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. The tough, hard wood is a deep orange when wet, and pale yellow after drying. The fruit (a pome) is edible and is often made into jelly.

Classification

* section ''Aria'' - ''Sorbus aria'' and its close relatives * section ''Alnifoliae'' - a group of Asian species * section ''Thibeticae'' - a group of species from the Himalayas and southern China * ''Sorbus intermedia'' group (nothosubgenus ''Soraria'') - taxa of hybrid origin involving sections ''Aria'' and ''Sorbus'' * ''Sorbus latifolia'' group (nothosubgenus ''Tormaria'') - taxa of hybrid origin involving sections ''Aria'' and ''Torminaria''

Selected species

''Sorbus'' subgenus ''Aria'' *''

Sorbus admonitor ''Karpatiosorbus admonitor'', previously classified as ''Sorbus admonitor'' and also called the no parking whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam tree found in Devon, United Kingdom. It is known only from the Watersmeet Valley at Lynton, with two ...

'' - No parking whitebeam *'' Sorbus alnifolia'' - Korean whitebeam *''

Sorbus anglica ''Sorbus anglica'', the English whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam tree in the family Rosaceae. It is uncommonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the Un ...

'' - English whitebeam *''

'' - Common Whitebeam *''

Sorbus aronioides ''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 depen ...

'' - Chokeberry-leaved whitebeam *''

Sorbus arranensis ''Sorbus arranensis'', sometimes referred to as the Scottish or Arran whitebeam is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to the island of Arran in Scotland. Range and habitat The species is threatened by habitat loss and on ...

'' - Arran whitebeam *''

Sorbus austriaca ''Sorbus austriaca'' is a species of whitebeam The whitebeams are members of the family Rosaceae, comprising subgenus ''Aria'' (or, according to some authorities, its own genus) of genus ''Sorbus'', and hybrids involving species of this subgenus ...

'' *''

Sorbus bristoliensis ''Karpatiosorbus bristoliensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is known commonly as the Bristol whitebeam. It is endemic to Great Britain, growing wild only in the Avon Gorge and in the Leigh Woods area of Bristol ...

'' - Bristol Gorge whitebeam *''

Sorbus cambrensis ''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 depe ...

'' - Welsh whitebeam *''

Sorbus carpatica ''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 depe ...

'' - Carpathian whitebeam *''

Sorbus cheddarensis ''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 depe ...

'' - Cheddar whitebeam *''

Sorbus croceocarpa ''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 depe ...

'' - Orange whitebeam *''

Sorbus cuneifolia ''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 depe ...

'' - Llangollen whitebeam *'' Sorbus danubialis'' *'' Sorbus decipiens'' - Sharp-toothed whitebeam *'' Sorbus devoniensis'' - Devon whitebeam *''

Sorbus eminens ''Sorbus eminens'', the round-leaved whitebeam, sometimes classified as ''Aria eminens'' when the ''Aria'' subgenus of ''Sorbus'' is elevated to full genus, is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to Great Britain. It is thre ...

'' - Round-leaved whitebeam *'' Sorbus eminentiformis'' - Doward whitebeam *''

Sorbus eminentoides ''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 depe ...

'' - Twin Cliffs whitebeam *'' Sorbus folgneri'' - Folgner's whitebeam *''

Sorbus franconica ''Karpatiosorbus franconica'' is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zo ...

'' *''

Sorbus graeca ''Sorbus graeca'', also known as the Greek whitebeam and fan-leaved service-tree is a species of whitebeam, member of the genus ''Sorbus'' in the rose family (Rosaceae). Description Distribution and habitat The tree is native to most of ...

'' - Balkan whitebeam *''

Sorbus hemsleyi ''Sorbus hemsleyi'' is a species of whitebeam native to central China. It is a small, erect deciduous tree to in height, with grey-green leaves and white flowers followed by brown fruit. The fruit are a major component of the diet of the yellow ...

'' *''

Sorbus hibernica ''Aria hibernica'', commonly known as Irish whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam endemic to Ireland. It occurs in most counties, usually as scattered individuals, or in small groups.Rich, T.C.G., Houston, L., Robertson, A. and Proctor, M.C.F., 20 ...

'' - Irish whitebeam *''

Sorbus hybrida ''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 depe ...

'' - Finnish whitebeam, Swedish service-tree *'' Sorbus intermedia'' - Swedish whitebeam *'' Sorbus lancastriensis'' - Lancastrian whitebeam *'' Sorbus latifolia'' - Service tree of Fontainebleau *''

Sorbus leighensis ''Sorbus leighensis'', the Leigh Woods whitebeam, is a rare species of whitebeam, a flowering plant in the rose family. Description ''Sorbus leighensis'' is a small tree or shrub reaching a height of 10 m. Like other whitebeams, the upper ...

'' - Leigh Woods whitebeam *''

Sorbus leptophylla ''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 depe ...

'' - Thin-leaved whitebeam *''

Sorbus leyana ''Sorbus leyana''. Ley's whitebeam, is a species of small tree which is endemic to two sites in southern Wales. It is thought to have arisen by hybridisation of two species of ''Sorbus'', one of which was the rowan. Its closest relatives are s ...

'' - Ley's whitebeam *''

Sorbus margaretae ''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 depe ...

'' - Margaret's whitebeam *''

Sorbus minima ''Sorbus minima'', commonly known as the lesser whitebeam or least whitebeam, is a shrub belonging to the subgenus ''Aria'' (whitebeams) in the genus ''Sorbus''. It is endemic to Wales where it grows at a few sites in Breconshire. It is an apom ...

'' - Least whitebeam *''

Sorbus mougeotii ''Sorbus mougeotii'', the Vosges whitebeam or Mougeot's whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam native to the mountains of central and western Europe from the Pyrenees east through the Alps to Austria, and north to the Vosges Mountains.Rushforth, K. ...

'' - Vosges whitebeam *''

Sorbus parviloba ''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 de ...

'' - Ship Rock whitebeam *''

Sorbus porrigentiformis ''Sorbus porrigentiformis'', the grey-leafed whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam endemic to England and Wales. Description This is a shrub or small tree, growing to a height of about 5m. It has obovate leaves ; these are shiny green above, and ...

'' - Grey-leaved whitebeam *''

Sorbus pseudofennica ''Sorbus pseudofennica'' (also called Arran service-tree or Arran cut-leaved whitebeam) is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. Endemic to the Isle of Arran in Scotland, it is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also te ...

'' - Arran service tree *''

Sorbus pseudomeinichii ''Sorbus pseudomeinichii'', known as false rowan and Catacol whitebeam, is a rare tree endemic to the Isle of Arran in south west Scotland. It is believed to have arisen as a hybrid of the native rowan (''Sorbus aucuparia'') and the cut-leave ...

'' - False rowan *'' Sorbus rupicola'' - Rock whitebeam *'' Sorbus rupicoloides'' - Gough's Rock whitebeam *''

Sorbus saxicola ''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 de ...

'' - Symonds Yat whitebeam *''

Sorbus scannelliana ''Hedlundia scannelliana'', commonly known as Scannell's whitebeam, is a species of shrub or tree endemic to Ross Island near Killarney in southwest Ireland. It is one of the rarest tree species in the world; only five individual plants are know ...

'' - Scannell's whitebeam *''

Sorbus stenophylla ''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 depe ...

'' - Llanthony whitebeam *'' Sorbus stirtoniana'' - Stirton's whitebeam *''

Sorbus subcuneata ''Karpatiosorbus subcuneata'', the Somerset whitebeam, is a species of plant in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to coastal north Devon and west Somerset in the United Kingdom. It is threatened by habitat loss. Description ''Karpatiosorbus s ...

'' - Somerset whitebeam *''

Sorbus thibetica ''Sorbus thibetica'' (康藏花楸), the Tibetan whitebeam, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae, native to south western China and the Himalayas. Growing to tall by broad, it is a substantial deciduous tree. Like other w ...

'' - Tibetan whitebeam *''

Sorbus umbellata ''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 depe ...

'' *''

Sorbus vestita ''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 depend ...

'' - Himalayan whitebeam *''

Sorbus vexans ''Sorbus vexans'' (known as bloody whitebeam) is a rare tree in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to England. It is found along the coast between Culbone in Somerset and an area just west of Trentishoe in Devon. It can be seen in the Exmoor Na ...

'' - Bloody whitebeam *'' Sorbus whiteana'' - White's whitebeam *''

Sorbus wilmottiana ''Sorbus wilmottiana'', the Willmott's whitebeam, is a species of whitebeam in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to England, and is found in the Avon Gorge, in Somerset and Gloucestershire. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destr ...

'' - Wilmott's whitebeam Plus many other species *''Sorbus'' subgenus '' Sorbus'' *''Sorbus'' Other subgenera

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4244649 Sorbus