Sorbus latifolia

Taxobox
name = "Sorbus latifolia"

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image_caption = "Sorbus latifolia" Morton Arboretum
Acc. 261-93-5
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rosaceae
genus = "Sorbus"
subgenus = "Aria"
species = "S. latifolia"
binomial = "Sorbus latifolia"
binomial_authority = Pers.

"Sorbus latifolia" (Service Tree of Fontainebleau; French: "Alisier de Fontainebleau") is a species of whitebeam endemic to the area around Fontainebleau south of Paris in France, from where it has been known since the early eighteenth century.Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.] Mitchell, A. F. (1974). "A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6] Mitchell, A. F. (1982). "The Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-219037-0]

It is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 10-20m tall, with a trunk up to 60 cm diameter. The leaves are 5–10 cm long and broad (rarely up to 20 cm long and 12 cm broad), most typically about as broad as they are long ("latifolia" being Latin for 'broad-leaved'); they are green above, downy with greyish-white hairs beneath, and with six to ten small triangular teeth along each margin. The flowers are 1–1.5 cm diameter, with five creamy-white petals and yellowish stamens; they are produced in corymbs about 8 cm diameter in mid spring. The fruit is a globose dull brownish-red pome 10–12 mm diameter dotted with large pale lenticels, ripening in late autumn.

The tree is of hybrid origin between "Sorbus torminalis" (Wild Service Tree) and a member of the "Sorbus aria" (Whitebeam) group, but exhibits apomixis and breeds true from seed.

It was at one time thought to be a variety of "Sorbus intermedia" (Swedish Whitebeam), being treated as such by some authors during the nineteenth century such as A. P. de Candolle and J. C. Loudon. Meanwhile, the horticulturalist George Loddiges whom Loudon held in high regard, labelled his arboretum trees at Abney Park Cemetery in 1840 in the currently accepted way as "Sorbus latifolia". Reflecting this considerable difference of opinion over the past two centuries as to its origins and identity, many synonyms have been used for the tree, including "Crataegus latifolia" Lam.; "Pyrus latifolia" (Lam.) Lindl.; "P. intermedia" var. "latifolia" (Lam.) D.C., and "P. edulis" Willd.Bean, W. J. (1980). "Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles" 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.]

The ancient woodlands where it occurs are in the protection of France's Office National des Forêts.

Cultivation and uses

The Service Tree of Fontainebleau has occasionally been planted in ornamental or arboretum schemes of woodland planting or in gardens and parks throughout Europe and America since its introduction into European horticulture in about 1750. Since it is very fertile and grows true from seed, it has occasionally been able to naturalise in woodlands beyond its origins in the protected Fontainebleau woods, as at Abney Park Cemetery (an early Victorian garden cemetery in Stoke Newington, London).

Though rare, the tree has been noted for several commercial uses. Its edible fruit was sold in open-air markets at Fontainebleau until the 1950s, and its homogeneous and long-lasting wood has proved to be valuable for certain uses.

References