Sorbus devoniensis
Sorbus devonensis is known by the English name of Devon whitebeam[3] and locally as otmast.[4] It is a species of whitebeam tree in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to the British Isles, growing wild only in areas of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Ireland.
Sorbus devoniensis | |
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Devon whitebeam, leaves and young fruit | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Rosaceae |
Genus: | Sorbus |
Subgenus: | Sorbus subg. Aria |
Species: | S. devoniensis |
Binomial name | |
Sorbus devoniensis | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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It did not exist before the last ice age, probably arising from a hybrid between the wild service tree and another whitebeam. It is a close relative of the No Parking whitebeam, Sorbus admonitor, which occupies the same range and is known to hybridise with the Devon whitebeam.
Description
It will form a deciduous tree to about 12 metres height.
The leaves are entire, lobed, are dark green above, underside has a dense layer of white hairs.
It flowers at the end of May, they are white with 5 petals.
The fruits ripen at the end of October. They are orange brown, and edible.
Locations found
- along the River Taw and River Torridge
- Roborough Down in Plymouth
- Little Haldon, at Bishopsteignton
- Boyton, Cornwall
- South East and North East Ireland (rarely)
- Halsdon Nature Reserve near Great Torrington managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust - one tree
- Uppacott Wood Nature reserve between Barnstaple and Bideford also managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, has many trees
- Watergate Bridge near Great Torrington, grid ref SS468175
- Leigh Cross, Zeal Monachorum, map grid ref SS698047
- Watergate, Horwood, ref SS502266
- Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle, WA, USA
References
- Beech, E. & Rivers, M.C. (2017). "Sorbus devoniensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T79748504A79748508. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T79748504A79748508.en.
- The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 27 December 2016
- "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- Browse, P.M.M. (2005), Heligan: Fruit, Flowers and Herbs, Alison Hodge, pp. 88–89, ISBN 9780906720400