Sorbus sargentiana

Taxobox
name = "Sorbus sargentiana"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Foliage and flowers
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rosaceae
subfamilia = Maloideae
genus = "Sorbus"
subgenus = "Sorbus"
species = "S. sargentiana"
binomial = "Sorbus sargentiana"
binomial_authority = Koehne

"Sorbus sargentiana" (Sargent's Rowan; Chinese: 晚绣花楸 "wan xiu hua qiu") is a species of rowan native to southwestern Sichuan and northern Yunnan in China, where it grows at altitudes of 2,000–3,200 m.Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200011714 "Sorbus sargentiana"] ] Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.]

It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 6–16 m tall, with trunk up to 50 cm diameter and a rounded crown. The bark is dark grey, and the shoots very stout, with large (1–2 cm), dark red, sticky resinous winter buds. The leaves are the largest of any rowan, dark green with impressed veining above, glaucous beneath, 20–35 cm long and 15–20 cm broad, with persistent 1 cm broad stipules; they are pinnate with 9–11 oblong-lanceolate leaflets 5–14 cm long and 3.5–5 cm broad, with an acute apex, serrated margins; the basal leaflets are slightly smaller than the apical leaflets. They change to a rich orange-pink to purple or dark red in mid autumn. The flowers are 5–7 mm diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens; they are produced 200–500 together in very large corymbs 12–25 cm diameter in late spring to early summer. The fruit is a pome 5–8 mm diameter, bright orange-red to red, maturing in early autumn; it is juicy, and readily eaten as soon as it is ripe by thrushes, which disperse the seeds.

Cultivation and uses

Outside of its native range, it is grown as an ornamental tree in western Europe for its bold foliage, huge clusters of fruit, and bright autumn colour.

References