Sorbus devoniensis
Encyclopedia
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.
It did not exist before the last Ice Age
, probably arising from a hybrid between the Wild Service Tree
and another Whitebeam
.
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.
Botanist David Cann would like to know of any other locations where this species has been found.
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 in the Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Rosaceae are a medium-sized family of flowering plants, including about 2830 species in 95 genera. The name is derived from the type genus Rosa. Among the largest genera are Alchemilla , Sorbus , Crataegus , Cotoneaster , and Rubus...
family. It is endemic to the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, growing wild only in areas of 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...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and Ireland.
It did not exist before the last Ice Age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, probably arising from a hybrid between the Wild Service Tree
Wild Service Tree
Sorbus torminalis , sometimes known as the Chequer Tree or Checker Tree, is a species of Sorbus native to Europe 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.It is a medium-sized...
and another Whitebeam
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...
.
Description
It will form a deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
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 TawRiver TawThe River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. It reaches the Bristol Channel away on the north coast of Devon at a joint estuary mouth which it shares with the River Torridge.-Watercourse:...
and River TorridgeRiver TorridgeThe River Torridge is a river in Devon in England. It was the home of Tarka the Otter in Henry Williamson's book. The Torridge local government district is named after the river.... - Roborough Down in PlymouthPlymouthPlymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
- Little Haldon, at BishopsteigntonBishopsteigntonBishopsteignton is a village in South Devon, England between Newton Abbot and Teignmouth, close to the Teign Estuary. The village is on a steep hill, and has a post office, small pharmacy and a small, family-run supermarket...
- Boyton, CornwallBoyton, CornwallBoyton is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated close to the River Tamar and the border with Devon about six miles north of Launceston. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 378....
- South East and North East Ireland (rarely)
- Halsdon Nature Reserve near Great TorringtonGreat TorringtonGreat Torrington is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below...
managed by the Devon Wildlife TrustDevon Wildlife TrustThe Devon Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts partnership covering the county of Devon, England. It is a registered charity, established in 1962 as the Devon Naturalists Trust, and its aim is to safeguard the future of the county's urban, rural and marine wildlife and its...
- one tree - Uppacott Wood Nature reserve between BarnstapleBarnstapleBarnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
and BidefordBidefordBideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, south-west England. It is also the main town of the Torridge local government district.-History:...
also managed by the Devon Wildlife TrustDevon Wildlife TrustThe Devon Wildlife Trust is a member of The Wildlife Trusts partnership covering the county of Devon, England. It is a registered charity, established in 1962 as the Devon Naturalists Trust, and its aim is to safeguard the future of the county's urban, rural and marine wildlife and its...
, has many trees - Watergate Bridge near Great TorringtonGreat TorringtonGreat Torrington is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below...
, grid ref SS468175 - Leigh Cross, Zeal MonachorumZeal MonachorumZeal Monachorum is a village and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon, England, about north-west of Exeter, situated on the River Yeo...
, map grid ref SS698047 - Watergate, Horwood, ref SS502266
Botanist David Cann would like to know of any other locations where this species has been found.