In today's world, Sorbus continues to be a topic of great relevance and interest. Over time, Sorbus has demonstrated its impact on different aspects of daily life, from health to the economy. It is a topic that has generated debate and analysis in various areas, and its importance continues to increase. In this article, we will explore key aspects related to Sorbus, its evolution over time and its influence on today's society. Furthermore, we will examine different perspectives and approaches that will allow us to better understand the importance of Sorbus in the contemporary world.
Sorbus | |
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European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) with fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Rosaceae |
Subfamily: | Amygdaloideae |
Tribe: | Maleae |
Subtribe: | Malinae |
Genus: | Sorbus L. |
Subgenera | |
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 depending on the circumscription of the genus, and also due to the number of apomictic microspecies, which some treat as distinct species, but others group in a smaller number of variable species. Recent treatments classify Sorbus in a narrower sense to include only the pinnate leaved species of subgenus Sorbus, raising several of the other subgenera to generic rank.
Sorbus is not closely related to the true ash trees which belong to the genus Fraxinus, although the leaves are superficially similar.
As treated in its broad sense, the genus is divided into two main and three or four small subgenera:
Hybrids are common in the genus, including many between the subgenera; very often these hybrids are apomictic (self-fertile without pollination), so able to reproduce clonally from seed without any variation. This has led to a very large number of microspecies, particularly in western Europe (including Britain) and parts of China.
Sorbus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moth species—see list of Lepidoptera that feed on Sorbus. Sorbus domestica is used to flavour some apple wines, see Apfelwein.
Sorbus species are cultivated as ornamental trees for parks and gardens and as avenue trees, and have given rise to several cultivars. The following, of mixed or uncertain parentage, have gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit: