View source for Sorbus

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Sorbus
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 477. 1753
|year=1753
}}, {{Treatment/Publication
|title=Gen. Pl. ed.
|place=5, 213. 1754
|year=1754
}}
|common_names=Mountain ash;rowan;whitebeam;sorbier;alisier
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Rosaceae;Rosaceae subfam. Amygdaloideae;Rosaceae tribe Gillenieae;Sorbus
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Rosaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>subfamily</small>[[Rosaceae subfam. Amygdaloideae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>tribe</small>[[Rosaceae tribe Gillenieae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Sorbus]]</div></div>
|etymology=Latin name for service tree, S. domestica Linnaeus
|volume=Volume 9
|mention_page=page 20, 429, 434, 435, 436, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445
|treatment_page=page 433
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism some measurement;whole_organism growth form;whole_organism some measurement;whole_organism growth form"><b>Shrubs </b>or trees, 10–300 dm.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="stem quantity;stem orientation;stem orientation"><b>Stems </b>1–8, erect or ascending;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="bark coloration;bark architecture or pubescence or relief;bark architecture or pubescence;lenticel prominence;lenticel orientation">bark gray to brown or bronze, usually smooth, becoming scaly with age, with conspicuous horizontal lenticels;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="">long and short-shoots present;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="short-shoot length or size;short-shoot presence;short-shoot architecture">unarmed;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="">twigs with smell and taste of bitter almond (cyanogenic glycosides);</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="whole-organism pubescence;whole-organism pubescence">glabrous or hairy.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="leaf duration;cauline leaf architecture;cauline leaf architecture;cauline leaf shape;cauline leaf shape"><b>Leaves </b>deciduous, cauline, simple or odd (rarely even) pinnately lobed or divided;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="stipule duration;stipule duration;stipule fusion;stipule fusion;stipule shape;stipule shape;stipule shape;margin architecture or shape;margin architecture or shape">stipules usually early deciduous, sometimes persistent, free or short-adnate to petiole, linear, ovate to lanceolate, or flabellate, margins entire or dentate to laciniate;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="petiole presence">petiole present;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="blade shape;blade some measurement;blade texture;leaflet presence;leaflet atypical quantity;leaflet quantity;leaflet arrangement;leaflet arrangement;leaflet shape;leaflet shape;leaflet shape;margin prominence or shape;margin architecture or shape;margin architecture or shape;surface pubescence;surface pubescence;surface pubescence">blade ovate to oblong, 5–33 cm, membranous to slightly leathery, leaflets 0 or 7–17 (–19), usually opposite, rarely alternate, elliptic, ovate, oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, margins flat, sharply serrate to nearly entire, venation pinnate, surfaces glabrous or hairy, sometimes glaucous.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="inflorescence position or structure subtype;inflorescence architecture;panicle shape;panicle shape;panicle pubescence;panicle pubescence;panicle pubescence;panicle pubescence;panicle pubescence"><b>Inflorescences </b>terminal, 6–400+-flowered, panicles, flat-topped or rounded, glabrous, glaucous, or hairy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="bract presence">bracts present;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="bracteole presence">bracteoles absent.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="pedicel presence"><b>Pedicels </b>present.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="flower quantity;flower position;flower odor;flower odor;flower odor;flower diameter;leaf expansion position;leaf perianth position;leaf androecium position"><b>Flowers </b>opening after leaf expansion, perianth and androecium epigynous or 1/2 epigynous, odor strong, often considered unpleasant or rancid, 5–17 mm diam.;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="hypanthium coloration;hypanthium shape;hypanthium some measurement;hypanthium pubescence;hypanthium pubescence">hypanthium green to red, obconic, 2–6 mm, glabrous or hairy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="sepal quantity;sepal orientation;sepal orientation;sepal shape;sepal shape">sepals 5, erect or ascending, ovate or triangular;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="petal quantity;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal shape;base shape;base shape;claw pubescence">petals 5, white or pink [red], suborbiculate or broadly obovate to broadly ovate, base clawed or not, claw often ± villous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="stamen atypical quantity;stamen atypical quantity;stamen quantity;petal quantity;petal length or size;petal quantity;petal length or size">stamens [10–] 14–20 [–44] in 2 or 3 series, usually slightly longer than petals;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s20" data-properties="carpel quantity;carpel fusion;carpel fusion;carpel fusion;carpel fusion;carpel position;carpel quantity;carpel pubescence;style quantity;style position or structure subtype;style fusion;style fusion;style length">carpels 2–5, distinct, partially or wholly connate and adnate to all or proximal 1/2 of hypanthium, usually apically woolly, styles 2–5, terminal, distinct or connate 1/2 of length;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s21" data-properties="ovule quantity;ovule quantity">ovules 2 or 3 [or 4] (all but 1 usually aborting).</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s22" data-properties="fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome coloration;fruits pome shape;fruits pome shape;fruits pome shape;fruits pome shape;fruits pome some measurement;fruits pome architecture or pubescence or relief;fruits pome architecture or pubescence or relief;fruits pome reflectance;fruits pome pubescence;fruits pome pubescence;fruits pome pubescence"><b>Fruits </b>pomes, usually orange or red, rarely brown or yellow [green, white, or pink], globose to ovoid, obovoid, ellipsoid, or oblong, [pyriform], 4–19 mm, smooth or with lenticels, shiny, sometimes glaucous, hairy or glabrous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s23" data-properties="">flesh usually with sclereids;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s24" data-properties="hypanthium duration">hypanthium persistent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s25" data-properties="sepal duration;sepal duration;sepal orientation;sepal texture">sepals usually persistent, rarely deciduous, usually incurved, fleshy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s26" data-properties="carpel pubescence or texture">carpels cartilaginous;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s27" data-properties="style duration">styles often persistent.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s28" data-properties=""><b>Seeds </b>3–5, brown to reddish-brown or yellowish, darkening with maturity, ovoid to lanceoloid, slightly asymmetric and flattened.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s29" data-properties="seed quantity;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed shape;seed architecture or shape;seed shape;x chromosome quantity">x = 17.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=North America;Eurasia;n Africa;Atlantic Islands;Pacific Islands
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 130 (10 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>The taxonomy of Sorbus is complicated by apomixis, polyploidy, and hybridization among sections and genera, especially in Eurasia. Hybrids with other genera in Maleae are generally distinguished by their incompletely divided, deeply lobed leaves, and include ×Amelasorbus Rehder (Sorbus × Amelanchier), ×Crataegosorbus Makino (Sorbus × Crataegus), ×Sorbaronia C. K. Schneider (Sorbus × Aronia), ×Sorbocotoneaster Pojarkova (Sorbus × Cotoneaster), ×Sorbopyrus C. K. Schneider (Sorbus × Pyrus), and ×Tormimalus Holub (as Torminalis Medikus [= Sorbus subg. Torminaria] × Malus). Only ×Amelasorbus and ×Sorbaronia are known to occur naturally in North America. Parentages of some reported ×Sorbaronia nothospecies are difficult to verify, especially for densely hairy hybrids involving either Aronia arbutifolia, A. ×prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, or Sorbus aucuparia; all these possibilities are claimed. In addition to their partially pinnate leaves, some ×Sorbaronia hybrids may be recognized by the presence of pink to red anthers and black or purple fruits; these are reported also to be somewhat sterile.</p><!--
--><p>Diploid Sorbus are often obligate outcrossers; some apomictic triploids and tetraploids are self-compatible (C. S. Campbell et al. 1991; H. A. McAllister 2005). Some species have morphologically indistinguishable diploid and tetraploid races, with sexual and apomictic individuals. North American species are in need of biosystematic review.</p><!--
--><p>Sorbus is treated here in the broad sense, as a provisional arrangement to accommodate more than 70 natural hybrids between simple- and pinnate-leaved subgenera (J. B. Phipps et al. 1990; E. B. Nelson-Jones et al. 2002; C. Kalkman 2004; A. Robertson et al. 2004, 2004b; J. J. Aldasoro et al. 2004, 2005). Additional hybrid taxa continue to be discovered in Europe (G. Aas et al. 1994; M. F. Fay et al. 2002; T. C. G. Rich and L. Houston 2006; A. Robertson and C. Sydes 2006). Nonetheless, the argument has been made to revive generic ranking for the simple-leaved subgenera Aria and Torminaria, based on flower and fruit characters (K. R. Robertson et al. 1991), with some support from molecular investigations (C. S. Campbell et al. 1995, 2007; D. Potter et al. 2007). Subgenus Torminaria is anomalous in Sorbus, having a unique flavonoid chemistry, leaves with relatively few broad lobes, and scented brown fruits, thick-skinned as in subg. Cormus (Spach) Duchartre and some Pyrus, and being dispersed by carnivorous mammals as well as birds (C. M. Herrera 1987, 1989). Eurasian hybrids between subgenera frequently involve S. torminalis of subg. Torminaria. Subgenera Aria and Torminaria are likely to be recognized at generic rank once molecular studies can consistently resolve their placement within the Pyrinae, overcoming current difficulties with interfertility, reticulate relationships, rapid radiation, and small samples (Campbell et al. 2007; Potter et al.).</p><!--
--><p>Some species of Sorbus are cultivated as ornamentals. The colorful fruits of native and introduced species persist after the leaves drop and are consumed by birds across North America (A. C. Martin et al. 1951). One exotic species disseminated by birds is invasive (S. aucuparia). The pomes of S. americana, collected after a frost, can be sweetened for preserves. The pulp of some strains of S. aucuparia is reported to be less bitter. It may be eaten fresh or dried or used as flour. The fruits of a number of Eurasian species are made into vinegar, spirits, or medications. Sorbus domestica and S. torminalis pomes are sometimes eaten after being bletted (allowed to autodigest and become soft and mushy in texture). The fine-grained wood of Sorbus is used for carving or furniture in China. The bark of some species is antiseptic, or used to tan leather. Sorbus sambucifolia pomes show some potential in early testing for treating tumors (Y. Yoshizawa et al. 2000, 2000b).</p><!--
--><p>In order to identify intergeneric hybrids involving Sorbus as one of the parents, the following key includes leads for ×Amelasorbus and ×Sorbaronia.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Keys==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  <h3 class="treatment-key-header" id="key-0">Key to sub-genera of Sorbus</h3>
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves pinnately compound at least proximally, petiole nodes 5-lacunate; pome flesh without tanniferous cells.
|[[Sorbus subg. Sorbus|Sorbus subg. Sorbus]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves simple, sometimes lobed, petiole nodes 3-lacunate; pome flesh with tanniferous cells. 5!-!Leaves simple, lobed, or proximally pinnately compound (escapes and hybrids). 14!-!Leaves pinnately compound (mostly native species)
|[[#key-0-6| > 6]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Blade margins relatively deeply lobed; pome flesh composed entirely of tanniferous cells; styles connate 1/2 their lengths.
|[[Sorbus subg. Torminaria|Sorbus subg. Torminaria]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Blade margins entire, toothed, or relatively shallowly lobed; pome flesh with tanniferous cells in groups; styles distinct.
|[[Sorbus subg. Aria|Sorbus subg. Aria]]
|}
</div><!--
--><div class="treatment-key-group">
  <h3 class="treatment-key-header" id="key-1">In order to identify intergeneric hybrids involving Sorbus as one of the parents, the following key includes leads for ×Amelasorbus and ×Sorbaronia.</h3>
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-1-1
|1
|Leaves simple, lobed, or proximally pinnately compound (escapes and hybrids).
|[[#key-1-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-1-1
|1
|Leaves pinnately compound (mostly native species).
|[[#key-1-6| > 6]]
|-id=key-1-2
|2
|Leaves simple, without leaflets; styles 2.
|[[#key-1-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-1-2
|2
|Leaves, at least some, proximally pinnate, with 1–3(–5) basal pairs of distinct leaflets; styles 2–5.
|[[#key-1-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-1-3
|3
|Leaves thinly hairy to glabrate abaxially, subpalmately lobed, lobes ± triangular, (1–)1.5–2.5 cm wide, apices acute to acuminate; pomes brown, narrowly obovoid, lenticels abundant; sepal margins prominently glandular (and villous), glands often relatively thick.
|[[Sorbus torminalis|Sorbus torminalis]]
|-id=key-1-3
|3
|Leaves tomentose abaxially, proximally pinnately lobed, lobes ± oblong, 1–1.5(–1.8) cm wide, apices acute to obtuse; pomes bright red, ellipsoid, sometimes narrowly obovoid, lenticels few; sepal margins eglandular (and villous), rarely with inconspicuous glands.
|[[Sorbus intermedia|Sorbus intermedia]]
|-id=key-1-4
|4
|Leaves tomentose abaxially; terminal leaflets 7–10-lobed; styles 2 or 3; pomes red.
|[[Sorbus hybrida|Sorbus hybrida]]
|-id=key-1-4
|4
|Leaves glabrous, glabrate, or sparsely to densely villous abaxially; terminal leaflets 1–3-lobed; styles 3–5; pomes dark purple or red
|[[#key-1-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-1-5
|5
|Terminal leaflet coarsely serrate; pomes subglobose; sepals erect or spreading-ascending, prominent ×Amelasorbus
|[[#key-1-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-1-5
|5
|Terminal leaflet finely serrate; pomes ellipsoid to ovoid; sepals incurved, inconspicuous ×Sorbaronia
|[[#key-1-1| > 1]]
|-id=key-1-6
|6
|Leaflets shiny adaxially (visible on herbarium specimens with strong lighting), green to dark green, never glaucous or blue-green; w North America
|[[#key-1-7| > 7]]
|-id=key-1-6
|6
|Leaflets dull adaxially, green to blue-green or yellowish green, sometimes slightly glaucous; w, e North America
|[[#key-1-9| > 9]]
|-id=key-1-7
|7
|Pomes: sepals erect, prominent; flowering hypanthium plus sepals (4.5–)5–6 mm; petals white to pinkish; w Aleutians (Alaska).
|[[Sorbus sambucifolia|Sorbus sambucifolia]]
|-id=key-1-7
|7
|Pomes: sepals incurved, inconspicuous; flowering hypanthium plus sepals 3–4 mm; petals white; w North America (except w Aleutians)
|[[#key-1-8| > 8]]
|-id=key-1-8
|8
|Indument primarily rufous on winter buds, leaflet axils, and inflorescences; fruiting pedicels essentially glabrous; leaflets 2.5–4.1(–4.5) cm.
|[[Sorbus californica|Sorbus californica]]
|-id=key-1-8
|8
|Indument primarily whitish on winter buds, leaflet axils, and inflorescences; fruiting pedicels sparsely to densely villous; leaflets (3–)4–6.5(–8.7) cm.
|[[Sorbus scopulina|Sorbus scopulina]]
|-id=key-1-9
|9
|Winter buds densely villous, hairs whitish, rarely rufous; hypanthia densely villous, hairs whitish.
|[[Sorbus aucuparia|Sorbus aucuparia]]
|-id=key-1-9
|9
|Winter buds glabrous or sparsely to densely villous, hairs primarily rufous; hypanthia glabrous or sparsely villous proximally, hairs whitish or rufous
|[[#key-1-10| > 10]]
|-id=key-1-10
|10
|Leaflet l/w ratios 3.4–5, apices gradually acuminate to long-acuminate; pomes 4–7 mm diam., not glaucous when fresh or dried.
|[[Sorbus americana|Sorbus americana]]
|-id=key-1-10
|10
|Leaflet l/w ratios 1.9–3.5(–3.6), apices abruptly short-acuminate, cuspidate, or obtuse to acute; pomes (5–)7–13 mm diam., often glaucous (sometimes only when dried)
|[[#key-1-11| > 11]]
|-id=key-1-11
|11
|Winter buds glutinous, shiny; leaflets (11–)13–17; e North America.
|[[Sorbus decora|Sorbus decora]]
|-id=key-1-11
|11
|Winter buds not glutinous, dull; leaflets 7–13; w North America.
|[[Sorbus sitchensis|Sorbus sitchensis]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Sorbus
|author=Peter F. Zika;Stéphane M. Bailleul
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=tribe
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Rosaceae
|distribution=North America;Eurasia;n Africa;Atlantic Islands;Pacific Islands
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.;Gen. Pl. ed.
|publication year=1753;1754
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V9/V9_731.xml
|subfamily=Rosaceae subfam. Amygdaloideae
|tribe=Rosaceae tribe Gillenieae
|genus=Sorbus
|bark architecture or pubescence=scaly
|bark architecture or pubescence or relief=smooth
|bark coloration=gray;brown or bronze
|base shape=not;clawed
|blade shape=ovate;oblong
|blade some measurement=5cm;33cm
|blade texture=membranous;slightly leathery
|bract presence=absent
|bracteole presence=absent
|carpel fusion=adnate;connate;or;distinct
|carpel position=proximal
|carpel pubescence=woolly
|carpel pubescence or texture=cartilaginous
|carpel quantity=1/2;2;5
|cauline leaf architecture=odd;simple
|cauline leaf shape=divided;lobed
|claw pubescence=villous
|flower diameter=5mm;17mm
|flower odor=rancid;unpleasant;strong
|flower position=epigynous
|flower quantity=1/2
|fruits pome architecture or pubescence or relief=with lenticels;smooth
|fruits pome coloration=yellow;brown;red;orange;yellow;brown;red;orange
|fruits pome pubescence=glabrous;hairy;glaucous
|fruits pome reflectance=shiny
|fruits pome shape=globose;ovoid obovoid ellipsoid or oblong
|fruits pome some measurement=4mm;19mm
|hypanthium coloration=green;red
|hypanthium duration=persistent
|hypanthium pubescence=hairy;glabrous
|hypanthium shape=obconic
|hypanthium some measurement=2mm;6mm
|inflorescence architecture=6-400+-flowered
|inflorescence position or structure subtype=terminal
|leaf androecium position=epigynous
|leaf duration=deciduous
|leaf expansion position=epigynous
|leaf perianth position=epigynous
|leaflet arrangement=alternate;opposite
|leaflet atypical quantity=17;19
|leaflet presence=absent
|leaflet quantity=7;17
|leaflet shape=oblong;lanceolate or oblanceolate
|lenticel orientation=horizontal
|lenticel prominence=conspicuous
|margin architecture or shape=pinnate;sharply serrate;nearly entire
|margin prominence or shape=flat
|ovule quantity=3;2
|panicle pubescence=hairy;glaucous;hairy;glaucous;glabrous
|panicle shape=rounded;flat-topped
|pedicel presence=absent
|petal coloration=pink;white
|petal length or size=longer;longer
|petal quantity=2;2;5
|petal shape=broadly obovate;broadly ovate
|petiole presence=absent
|seed architecture or shape=asymmetric
|seed coloration=darkening;brown;reddish-brown or yellowish
|seed quantity=3;5
|seed shape=flattened;ovoid;lanceoloid
|sepal duration=deciduous;persistent
|sepal orientation=incurved;ascending;erect
|sepal quantity=5
|sepal shape=triangular;ovate
|sepal texture=fleshy
|short-shoot architecture=unarmed
|short-shoot length or size=long
|short-shoot presence=absent
|stamen atypical quantity=20;44
|stamen quantity=14;20
|stem orientation=ascending;erect
|stem quantity=1;8
|stipule duration=persistent;deciduous
|stipule fusion=short-adnate;free
|stipule shape=ovate;lanceolate or flabellate
|style duration=persistent
|style fusion=connate;distinct
|style length=1/2
|style position or structure subtype=terminal
|style quantity=2;5
|surface pubescence=glaucous;hairy;glabrous
|whole-organism pubescence=hairy;glabrous
|whole_organism growth form=tree;shrub
|whole_organism some measurement=10dm;300dm
|x chromosome quantity=17
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Rosaceae tribe Gillenieae]]