Kingdom Plantae Family Rosaceae Subgenus Sorbus subg. Aria Rank Species | Order Rosales Genus Sorbus Scientific name Sorbus eminens | |
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Similar Sorbus leyana, Sorbus minima, Sorbus pseudofennica, Sorbus arranensis, Sorbus devoniensis | ||
Sorbus eminens, the round-leaved whitebeam, sometimes classified as Aria eminens when the Aria subgenus of Sorbus is elevated to full genus, is a species of plant in the Rosaceae family. It is endemic to the United Kingdom. It is threatened by habitat loss.
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Description
As part of the Sorbus aria complex, Sorbus eminens is broadly similar to S. aria. It is a shrub or small tree up to 10 m (33 ft) tall. The undersides of the leaves are greyish-white due to the many hairs. The leaves are more or less round, usually with a length 1–1.3 times the width, rarely up to 1.5 times as long as wide; they usually have 9–11 veins on either side. The leaf margins usually have a single series of teeth ("uniserrate") although there can be evidence of a second series ("biserrate"). The fruits have many lenticels, small and large, mainly towards the base.
Distribution and habitat
Sorbus eminens is endemic to parts of south-west England and south Wales. It is considered to be native to calciferous woodland in north Somerset, west Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. It has also been recorded in Sutton Park, Birmingham, well outside its expected range, where it is assumed to have been planted originally.