Sorbus torminalis
Ecology
A medium-sized tree on a wide variety of soils, often clayey, or over limestone, found in old woods and hedgerows and occasionally in scrub. Planted trees occur in parks and plantations. This is one of our three widespread sexually-reproducing species of Sorbus, and it may also form small stands through root-layering. Lowland.
Status
Trends
S. torminalis is often regarded as an indicator of ancient woodland. It is easily overlooked and is more frequent than was thought at the time of the 1962 Atlas.
World Distribution
European Temperate element.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 4
Moisture (Ellenberg): 5
Reaction (Ellenberg): 6
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 5
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.9
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 16
Annual Precipitation (mm): 804
Height (cm): 1900
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 573
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 0
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 0
Atlas Change Index: 0.22
Weighted Changed Factor: 16
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
External Species Accounts
Atlas text references
Atlas (132a) .
1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols. .
1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Volume 1. 2 vols. .
1993. The distribution of the Wild Service Tree, Sorbus torminalis ( L.) Crantz, in the British Isles. Watsonia. 19:209-229.