Sorbus torminalis
Wild Services Tree
Chequers
Family Rosaceae
Description
Medium deciduous tree with brown berries rather rare and taken as an
indicator of ancient woodland.
Height 26m Age Believed to be long lived.
Habitat
Clay and limestone in general, light demanding although can stand
shading. Found with Rowan, Cherry, and Oak. Coppice strongly and
will produce suckers.
Natural Distribution
England. Also Europe, North Africa Caucuses and Middle East.
The Tree Year
Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
June May Sept/Nov
Propagation and Growth
Grown as seed. Treat as Whitebeam. Approx 30,000 seeds per kg.
Timber
Yellowish hard wood.
Uses of Wood
Rather rare but used for turnery and cabinet work.
Food and Drink
Berries are edible and formerly used to make an alcoholic beverage
called chequers.
Related Species
Other Sorbus Species. Also hybrids with S. aria. S. domestica -
Service tree is a native and S. Europe with largeish Apple or pear
like fruit.
Taxus baccata
Yew
Family Taxaceae
Description
Medium sized evergreen tree with characteristic red fleshy berries (called arils). Single seed in each aril.
Height Typically 15 - 28 m Age Very long lived - Maybe even 2000 years
Habitat
On limestone and chalk. Often occurs in the dense shade of Oak woods. Used for hedging and topiary.
Natural Distribution
Throughout Britain and Ireland. Native to most of Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa.
The Tree Year
Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
March/April October
Propagation and Growth
Deeply dormant seed needing treatment from collection in autumn to the spring of the following season but one (ie 18 months). 10,000 seeds per kg. Also propagated from cuttings and this may prove to be easiest method.
Timber
Brown very durable wood.
Uses of Wood
Used for furniture and for tool handles. Good firewood. Can fetch very high prices when of right quality for veneer.
Food and drink
All parts of the tree except red aril are poisonous to man and animals although deer browse young seedlings. Birds eat the arils and spread the seed.
Related Species
Irish yew is a variety with tall and narrow form.
Tilia cordata
Small leaved Lime
Linden
Family Tiliaceae
Description
Large deciduous tree believed at one time to have been dominant tree in English forests.
Height 38 m Age 500 years
Habitat
Woods and cliffs except limestone. Sometimes forms pure stands but usually with Ash, Hawthorn, Field Maple, Birch, Oak, Wild Cherry and Wych Elm. Moderately tolerant of shade. Coppices strongly.
Natural Distribution
England and Wales, Southern Scotland and Ireland. Also most of Western Europe except Southern Spain, Italy and Greece.
The Tree Year
Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
July April/May September
Propagation and Growth
Grown from seed. Deeply dormant treat as Acer campestre except start treatment 10 months before planting. Approximately 20,000 seeds per kg but germination variable. Also grown from cuttings.
Timber
Relatively soft white or yellow wood, valuable timber. Does not change dimensions or warp once seasoned.
Uses of Wood
Good for carving and making small articles and model making. Bark has strong fibre (bast) and once used for ropes.
Food and Drink
Sugar can be made from sap and beekeepers regard as a good source of nectar. On continent flowers dried to make tea.
Related Species
Common Lime is a hybrid of Tilia cordata and T. platyphyllos.
Tilia platyphyllos
Large Leaved Lime
Linden
Broad Leaved Lime
Family Tiliaceae
.
Description
Large deciduous tree rare and restricted in habitats
Height 32m
Habitat
Woods.
Natural Distribution
Woods by River Wye, Teme and Severn and in South Yorkshire. Not native to Ireland but throughout France, Central Europe and Asia Minor.
The tree Year
Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
June April/May
Propagation and Growth
Deeply dormant seed. Treat as Acer campestre but start treatment approx 12 months before planting. Approx 6000 seeds per kg.
Timber
See Tilia cordata.
Uses of Wood
See Tilia cordata.
Food and Drink
See Tilia cordata.
Related Species
See Tilia cordata.
Ulmus glabra
Wych Elm
Scots Elm
Description
Large deciduous tree. Susceptible to Dutch Elm disease and accordingly not planted any more.
Height 40m Age up to 500 years
Habitat
Typical hedgerow tree but found up to 300m. Requires non calcerous top soil. In mixed woods with Whitebeam and small leave lime and in Oak and Ash woods.
Natural Distribution
Common in North and West of Britain and Ireland. Native throughout Europe and W. Asia.
The Tree Year
Flowers Leaves Fruit Ripen Fall
Feb/March April/May May/June
Propagation and Growth
Grown from seed which is not dormant. Approx 40,000 seed per kg. Does not sucker. Takes approx 30 years from seeds are produced and then every 2 or 3 years. In the wild seed germinate shortly after falling.
Timber
Strong and supple pale brown wood. Prone to shake. Cannot be split leading to particular uses. Does not decay when immersed in water.
Uses of Wood
Used to be used to make chests, water pipes and troughs and for sea defenses. Also for sections for cow sheds, cribs and mangers, hubs of wheels, coffins and furniture.
Food and Drink
Leaves once used for livestock.
Related Species
Various non - native species were common in England but decimated by Dutch Elm Disease.
Page 5.28/29/30/31/32 - Native Trees of the British Isles