Trees Planet: Sorbus alnifolia

Friday, January 2, 2015

Sorbus alnifolia - Korean Whitebeam

General Information

Common Name	Korean Whitebeam
Scientific Name	*Sorbus alnifolia*
Sun Tolerance	Full Sun
Height	10 - 20 m (33-66 ft)
Spread	6 -8 m (20 - 30 ft)
Growth Rate	Fast
Bloom Time	Spring
Color	Green,
Flower Color	White
Type	Tree
Native	Asia, Europe, USA

Classification

Kingdom	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	Rosidae
Order	Rosales
Family	Rosaceae – Rose family
Genus	Sorbus L. – Mountain Ash
Species	S. alnifolia

Sorbus alnifolia - Korean Whitebeam

Sorbus alnifolia commonly known as or Korean Whitebeam also known as Alder-leafed Whitebeam. It is native to eastern Asia of northern China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. This is a medium-sized tree that grows to 10–20 m (33-66 ft) tall and trunk grows up to 30 cm diameter with grey bark. The crown is columnar or conic in young trees and becoming rounded with age, with branches angled upwards, and slender shoots.

This is a deciduous tree. The leaves are green above. The leaves are arranged alternately on the shoots and thinly hairy with white hairs beneath, 5–10 cm long and 3–6 cm broad, simple, usually un-lobed, broadest near the base, with serrated margins and an acute apex. In the autumn the leaves color become orange-pink to red. It blooms white flowers in late spring. The flowers are 10–18 mm diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens; they are produced in corymbs 4–8 cm diameter. The fruit of Korean Whitebeam is a globose pome 8–15 mm diameter, the fruit is bright red. They are mature in mid-autumn.

S. alnifolia is cultivate as an ornamental tree in northern Europe for its autumn color. The wood is used for furniture making and the bark for dye making in Japan. It has been used to make rulers in Russia.