Sorbus admonitor
Encyclopedia
The No Parking Whitebeam (Sorbus admonitor) or Sorbus No Parking is a species of whitebeam
tree
found in Devon
, United Kingdom
. Its unusual name derives from the location of the first tree to be found (not the type specimen) – by a lay-by near Watersmeet
in North Devon
, with a "no parking
" sign nailed to the tree. Although first recognised as a distinct variety in the 1930s (by the botanist E. F. Warburg) because of its strongly lobed leaves, it was only accorded species
status in 2009, after various biochemical analyses. It is believed at least 110 individuals of the species exist. The leaves of the No Parking Whitebeam have more accentuated lobes than the Devon Whitebeam, of which it was thought before to be a variety.
The research project that named the tree as a species was led by Dr Tim Rich, head of vascular plants at the National Museum Wales
, as well as academics from Bristol University, Exeter University, Oxford University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
. The announcement of the species, and of thirteen other Sorbus species, was made in two papers in the BSBI's journal Watsonia
.
Dr Rich stated that the trees, along with other new whitebeam species, had "probably developed recently", and also considered them as "examples of on-going evolution
of new species".
is a large tree above scree
at Watersmeet in Vice-county 4, North Devon, Grid Ref ; the material studied was collected on 10 Oct 2007. It is a member of the Sorbus latifolia group.
It is similar to Sorbus devoniensis
, but differing in having leaves more deeply lobed, 10–23% of the way to the midrib at the centre of the lamina – not 6–18% as in S. devoniensis; the leaves of S. admonitor are also glossier than those of S. devoniensis.
It is endemic to the Watersmeet area, where there are at least 108 trees in the East Lyn Valley and two trees nearby above Sillery Sands, Lynmouth
. S. devoniensis does not grow in this area. The two species have not been confirmed as growing together.
A chromosome
count showed that the species is tetraploid.
It has an IUCN conservation assessment of Endangered
.
Whitebeam
The whitebeams are members of the Rosaceae family, comprising subgenus Aria 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...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
found in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Its unusual name derives from the location of the first tree to be found (not the type specimen) – by a lay-by near Watersmeet
Watersmeet House
Watersmeet House is a former fishing lodge located in Lynmouth, Devon, England, and used today as an information centre, tea room and shop by the National Trust, who have owned it since 1996....
in North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
, with a "no parking
Parking
Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions...
" sign nailed to the tree. Although first recognised as a distinct variety in the 1930s (by the botanist E. F. Warburg) because of its strongly lobed leaves, it was only accorded species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
status in 2009, after various biochemical analyses. It is believed at least 110 individuals of the species exist. The leaves of the No Parking Whitebeam have more accentuated lobes than the Devon Whitebeam, of which it was thought before to be a variety.
The research project that named the tree as a species was led by Dr Tim Rich, head of vascular plants at the National Museum Wales
National Museum Wales
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, formerly the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, comprises eight museums in Wales:* National Museum Cardiff* St Fagans: National History Museum, Cardiff* Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon...
, as well as academics from Bristol University, Exeter University, Oxford University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
. The announcement of the species, and of thirteen other Sorbus species, was made in two papers in the BSBI's journal Watsonia
Watsonia (journal)
The botanical journal Watsonia was a publication specializing in research into the native flora of the British Isles. It was named after the nineteenth-century British phytogeographer Hewett Watson. The journal was published by the Botanical Society of the British Isles...
.
Dr Rich stated that the trees, along with other new whitebeam species, had "probably developed recently", and also considered them as "examples of on-going evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
of new species".
Details
The holotypeHolotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
is a large tree above scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
at Watersmeet in Vice-county 4, North Devon, Grid Ref ; the material studied was collected on 10 Oct 2007. It is a member of the Sorbus latifolia group.
It is similar to Sorbus devoniensis
Sorbus devoniensis
Sorbus Devonensis is known by the English name of Devon Whitebeam. It is a species of Whitebeam tree in the Rosaceae family. It is endemic to the British Isles, growing wild only in areas of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Ireland....
, but differing in having leaves more deeply lobed, 10–23% of the way to the midrib at the centre of the lamina – not 6–18% as in S. devoniensis; the leaves of S. admonitor are also glossier than those of S. devoniensis.
It is endemic to the Watersmeet area, where there are at least 108 trees in the East Lyn Valley and two trees nearby above Sillery Sands, Lynmouth
Lynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
. S. devoniensis does not grow in this area. The two species have not been confirmed as growing together.
A chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
count showed that the species is tetraploid.
It has an IUCN conservation assessment of Endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.