In today's world, Sorbus is a highly relevant issue that impacts numerous people in different walks of life. Whether in the professional, personal or academic field, Sorbus has generated great interest and debate, awakening the curiosity of many. This phenomenon has gained greater importance in recent years due to its impact on society and its influence on decision-making. This is why it is essential to deepen our knowledge about Sorbus and its implications, in order to better understand its scope and find possible solutions to the challenges it poses.
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: