Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Sorbus torminalis

Other names

Chequers, Checker Tree

Family

Rosaceae

Flowering season

April to May

English distribution

It is found throughout the country but is less common in

the North and parts of East Anglia.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

– Wild Service-Tree

Habitat

It grows in hedges, scrub and woodland, mainly on clay or

limestone.

It is planted in parkland and amenity areas.

Description

Wild Service-Tree is a native deciduous tree growing up

to 25m.

The flowers are in flat-topped groupings of up to 12cm.

Flowers are up to 15mm with 5 white petals.

There are 20 stamens with cream anthers.

There are 2 broad pale green styles divided to about

half way, with capitate stigmas.

The 5 sepals are triangular and fluffily hairy.

The fruits are ovoid, pale green and up to 16mm.

Leaves are up to 14cm, conspicuously veined, with

between 5 and 9 lobes. They turn red in the autumn.

The trunk and twigs are dark brown and covered in

grey plates which flake off.

It reproduces by seed and by layering.

The Woodland Trust describes the use of the Wild

Service-Tree in flavouring whisky.