Wild Service Tree

''Sorbus torminalis'', with common names wild service tree, chequers, and checker tree, is a species of tree in the mountain ash or rowan genus (''Sorbus'') of the rose family (Rosaceae), that is native to Europe, parts of northern Africa and western Asia.

Description

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to tall, with a trunk up to in diameter. The bark is smooth and grayish, but flaky, peeling away in squarish plates to reveal darker brown layers. The leaves are long and broad with a petiole, dark green on both sides, with five to nine acute lobes; the basal pair of lobes are spreading, the rest more forward-pointing and decreasing in size to the leaf apex, and with finely toothed margins; the undersides have small hairs when young, but both sides are smooth and shiny when older; the autumn colour is yellow to red-brown. The flowers are in diameter, with five white petals and 20 creamy-white stamens; they are produced in corymbs diameter in late spring to early summer, and are hermaphroditic and insect pollinated. The fruit is a globose to ovoid pome 10–15 mm in diameter, greenish to russet or brown, patterned with small pale lenticel spots when mature in mid to late autumn.Mitchell, A. F. (1974). ''A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe''. Collins Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''.

Taxonomy

There are two varieties:
* ''Sorbus torminalis'' var. ''torminalis''. Europe, northwest Africa.
* ''Sorbus torminalis'' var. ''caucasica''. Caucasus and Alborz Mountains. Leaves less deeply lobed than in var. ''torminalis''.

The species has sometimes been placed in its own genus, '' Torminalis''. Recent molecular phylogenetics confirms an earlier taxonomic opinion that the genus ''Sorbus'' as defined in the broad sense is not monophyletic, but the simple-leafed species traditionally included in ''Sorbus'' are a monophyletic group; this species would be included in a clade called ''Aria'' (genus ''Aria'' or ''Sorbus'' subgenus ''Aria'') as the species ''Aria torminalis'' Beck.

It is a sexually reproducing diploid species that forms diploid and polyploid hybrids with members of subgenus ''Aria'' (whitebeams). A number of often very localised stable apomictic polyploid species of ultimately hybrid origin between ''Sorbus torminalis'' and various species in the subgenus ''Aria'' occur in Europe, including ''Sorbus latifolia'' (service tree of Fontainebleau), and '' S. bristoliensis'' (Bristol whitebeam).

Etymology

The tree's Latin name, ''torminalis'' means "good for colic".

The name "chequers" may have been derived from the ancient symbol of a pub being the chequer-board (as the fruit were once used to flavour beer) or the spotted pattern of the fruit,'' Oxford English Dictionary'' though some suggest it comes from the pattern of the bark on old trees.

Distribution and habitat

It is found from England and Wales east to Denmark and Poland, south to northwest Africa, and southeast to southwest Asia from Asia Minor to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains.Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins .

The wild service tree favours deep fertile soils, but can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, from chalky, superficial, dry soils to temporarily waterlogged soils. It can adapt to a variety of climatic conditions, but occurs most often in lowlands. Wild service tree is a light-demanding species, often out-competed by other hardwood species.

It is relatively rare and in Britain is now usually confined to pockets of ancient woodland, although it can also be found growing in hedgerows. It can often be found associated with oak and ash woods, preferring clay and lime based soils. In Britain, summer temperatures are often too low for the seeds to ripen, so its principal method of propagation is by suckers.

Ecology

The fruits are eaten by many birds and a few mammals, making the tree ecologically important and appreciated by hunters.

Uses

The wild service tree is one of the most valuable hardwoods in Europe. The wood is fine-grained, very dense and has good bending strength. It was used in the past to make screws for winepresses, billiard cue sticks, musical instruments and turnery. Today, it is usually only used for decorative veneers.

The fruit, sometimes called "chequers", are edible and taste similar to dates, although they are now rarely collected for food. They are usually too astringent to eat until they are over-ripe and bletted. They were traditionally known as a herbal remedy for colic. Before the introduction of hops, the fruit were used to flavour beer.G. J. Monson-Fitzjohn gives three possible origins for chequers as a pub name: the chequer board suggests the passing away of odd hours by a game of "draughts"; others were named from the custom of painting signposts sometimes found outside pubs in alternate black and white squares; and others from the "chequy field" of the coat of arms of a local landowner. 270 hotels, tavern and inns then bore the name.--Monson-Fitzjohn, G. J. (1926) ''Quaint Signs of Olde Inns''. London: Herbert Jenkins (reissued by Senate, London, 1994 ); pp. 34, 45

Gallery

Sorbus torminalis Trunk and canopy.jpg, Trunk and leaf canopy
Sorbus torminalis leaves kz.jpg, Leaves
Sorbus torminalis 190513.jpg, Flowers
ElsbeerFrucht.jpeg, Foliage and fruit
Sorbus torminalis Weinsberg 20070929 5.jpg, Ripe fruit
Sorbus torminalis Weinsberg 20070929 8.jpg, Autumn leaf colour

References

Further reading

* Wedig Kausch-Blecken von Schmeling: ''Die Elsbeere''. Bovenden 1994,
* Roper, P. (1993) "The distribution of the Wild Service Tree ''Sorbus torminalis'' (L.) Crantz, in the British Isles", '' Watsonia'', 19, pp. 209–22

External links

Wild Service Tree
at rhs.org.uk
''Sorbus torminalis''
- distribution map, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)

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torminalis
Flora of Europe
Flora of Asia
Flora of Africa
Trees of Mediterranean climate