Sorbus torminalis var. perincisa (Borbás & Fekete) C.K.Schneid.
Sorbus torminalis f. pinnatifida (Boiss.) Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis var. pinnatifida Boiss.
Sorbus torminalis f. pisifera Priszter & Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. platyloba Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. platyphylla Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. pomoidea Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. priszteri Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. rotundata Priszter & Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis var. semitorminalis (Borbás) Düll
Sorbus torminalis f. semitorminalis (Borbás) Jáv.
Sorbus torminalis f. sphaerocarpa Priszter & Kárpáti
Sorbus torminalis f. stenoloba Kárpáti
Torminalis clusii K.R.Robertson & J.B.Phipps
Torminalis orientalis (Schönb.-Tem.) K.R.Robertson & J.B.Phipps
Torminaria clusii M.Roem.
Torminaria clusii var. pubescens Lavallée
Torminaria torminalis (L.) Dippel
Torminaria vulgaris Schur
Torminalis is a genus of plants in the rose family
Rosaceae.[1] The genus Torminalis was formerly included within the genus Sorbus, as the
sectionTorminaria, but the simple-leafed species traditionally classified in Sorbus are now considered to form a separate
monophyletic group.[2] It is
monotypic, being represented by the single species, Torminalis glaberrima,
commonly known as wild service tree, chequers, and checker tree.[3] This tree is native to Europe, parts of northern Africa and western Asia.
A possible second species in the genus has been identified through DNA analysis, but a new scientific description for it has not yet been written.[4]
Description
Torminalis glaberrima is a medium-sized
deciduous tree growing to 15–25 metres (49–82 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 1.3 m (4+1⁄2 ft) in diameter. The
bark is smooth and grayish, but flaky, peeling away in squarish plates to reveal darker brown layers. The
leaves are 6–14 centimetres (2–6 inches) long and broad with a 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) petiole, dark green on both sides, with five to nine acute lobes; the basal pair of lobes are spreading, the rest more forward-pointing and decreasing in size to the leaf apex, and with finely toothed margins; the undersides have small hairs when young, but both sides are smooth and shiny when older; the autumn colour is yellow to red-brown. The
flowers are 10–15 millimetres (3⁄8–5⁄8 in) in diameter, with five white petals and 20 creamy-white stamens; they are produced in
corymbs 5–12 cm (2–4+1⁄2 in) diameter in late spring to early summer, and are
hermaphroditic and insect pollinated. The
fruit is a globose to ovoid
pome 10–15 mm in diameter, greenish to russet or brown, patterned with small pale
lenticel spots when mature in mid to late autumn.[5][6][7]
Torminalis glaberrima var. torminalis. Europe, northwest Africa.
Torminalis glaberrima var. caucasica. Caucasus and Alborz Mountains. Leaves less deeply lobed than in var. torminalis.
The genus Torminalis was formerly included within the genus Sorbus, as the
sectionTorminaria, but the simple-leafed species traditionally classified in Sorbus are now considered to form a separate
monophyletic group.[2]
Torminalis glaberrima is a sexually reproducing
diploid species that forms diploid and polyploid hybrids with members of the genus Aria (whitebeams).[8] A number of often very localised stable
apomictic polyploid species of ultimately
hybrid origin between Sorbus torminalis and various species in the genus Aria occur in Europe, including Sorbus latifolia (service tree of Fontainebleau), and S. bristoliensis (Bristol whitebeam).[5] They are now classified as the Karpatiosorbus genus.
Etymology
The tree's Latin name, torminalis means "good for
colic".
The name "chequers" may have been derived from the ancient symbol of a pub being the
chequer-board (as the fruit were once used to flavour
beer)[9] or the spotted pattern of the fruit,[10] though some suggest it comes from the pattern of the bark on old trees.[citation needed]
Distribution and habitat
It is found from Great Britain (
England and
Wales) east to Denmark and Poland, south to northwest Africa, and southeast to southwest Asia from Asia Minor to the
Caucasus and
Alborz mountains.[5]
The wild service tree favours deep fertile soils, but can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, from chalky, superficial, dry soils to temporarily waterlogged soils, often found alongside the
true service tree. It can adapt to a variety of climatic conditions, but occurs most often in lowlands. Wild service tree is a light-demanding species, often out-competed by other
hardwood species.[11]
It is relatively rare and in
Britain is now usually confined to pockets of
ancient woodland, although it can also be found growing in
hedgerows. It can often be found associated with
oak and
ash woods, preferring
clay and
lime based soils. In Britain, summer temperatures are often too low for the seeds to ripen, so its principal method of
propagation is by
suckers.[5]
Ecology
The fruits are eaten by many birds and a few mammals, making the tree ecologically important.[11]
Uses
The wild service tree is one of the most valuable
hardwoods in
Europe. The wood is fine-grained, very dense and has good bending strength. It was used in the past to make
screws for winepresses,
billiard cue sticks,
musical instruments and
turnery. Today, it is usually only used for decorative
veneers.[11]
The fruit, sometimes called "chequers", are edible and taste similar to
dates, although they are now rarely collected for food. They are usually too
astringent to eat until they are over-ripe and
bletted. They were traditionally known as a herbal remedy for colic. Before the introduction of
hops, the fruit were used to flavour beer.[9]
^
abLo, E.Y.Y.; Donoghue, M.J. (2012), "Expanded phylogenetic and dating analyses of the apples and their relatives (Pyreae, Rosaceae)", Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 63 (2): 230–243,
doi:
10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.005,
PMID22293154
^
abG. J. Monson-Fitzjohn gives three possible origins for chequers as a pub name: the chequer board suggests the passing away of odd hours by a game of "draughts"; others were named from the custom of painting signposts sometimes found outside pubs in alternate black and white squares; and others from the "chequy field" of the coat of arms of a local landowner. 270 hotels, tavern and inns then bore the name.--Monson-Fitzjohn, G. J. (1926) Quaint Signs of Olde Inns. London: Herbert Jenkins (reissued by Senate, London, 1994
ISBN1-85958-028-9); pp. 34, 45