Wild Service Tree

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iWild Service Tree

mature Wild Service Tree in spring

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Maloideae
Genus:	Sorbus
Subgenus:	Torminaria
Species:	S. torminalis

Binomial name

Sorbus torminalis
(L.) Crantz

The Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis), also known as the Chequers Tree, is a medium sized, deciduous tree native to Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus and the Middle East.

The Wild Service Tree grows to a height of 25m. It is relatively rare and is 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.

The leaves are dark green on both sides, coarsely toothed and have five or seven lobes. The undersides have small hairs when young, but both sides are smooth and shiny when older. The bark is smooth and greyish, but flaky, peeling away in squarish plates to reveal darker brown layers. This gives rise to its alternative name of the Chequer Tree.

In late spring the Wild Service Tree produces branched clusters of creamy white, five petalled flowers. The flowers are similar to those of the Rowan tree but are slightly larger being about 15 mm in diameter.

In September and November, the tree produces light brown round berries, which are also 15 mm in diameter and may also be called chequers. The berries are edible and taste similar to dates, although they are now rarely collected for food. They are usually too tough to eat until they are over-ripe and bletted. The berries are traditionally known as a herbal remedy for colic; the tree's latin name, torminalis means 'good for colic'. Before the introduction of hops, the berries were used to flavour beer which is thought to give rise to the common English pub name The Chequers.

In Britain, summer temperatures are often too low for the seeds to ripen, so the principle method of propagation is via suckers.

In the woodlands of the Forest of Fontainebleau, Sorbus torminalis is believed to have hybridised with a member of the Sorbus aria group to give rise to the Service Tree of Fontainebleau, which has been known there since the early eighteenth century.