Wild service tree

Despite the show of white flowers in spring and gorgeous red leaves in autumn this tree has slipped somewhat into obscurity. In the past it was famous for its autumn fruits, often made into sweets for children or alcoholic drinks for the adults.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Chequers tree Maple tree Chequers Chokers Maple cherry (Cornwall)
Generic name	Service tree
Latin name	Sorbus torminalis
Family name	Rose
Latin family name	Rosaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	10-25m

Leaf

Description	The leaves look a little like a maple having around five 'lobes'. There are two distinctly separate and pointed lobes at the base of the leaf near the stalk, whilst the other 'lobes' are somewhat joined. The leaves are shiny underneath with hairs on the veins
Shape	Lobed
Colour	Medium green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Brilliant red-coppery colour
Leaf bud	Round green buds that look like little peas
Leaf stalk	Short stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Flowering season	Late spring
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Brown sometimes with a red tinge and covered in light brown speckles
Fruit season	Autumn
Type of seed body	Fruit
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Brown with cracked oblong plates
Twig Description	Slender, shiny grey-brown straight twig

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	England as far north as Cumbria
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Heavy soils preferably clay. Most commonly found in ancient woods and old hedgerows.
What is its British conservation status?	Occasional

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

The wood does not seem to have a particularly widespread use despite its lovely fine grain and silvery sheen. However there are some records of it being used by joiners and engravers for a wide variety of items. The wood is apparently similar in characteristics to sycamore. It seems the tree was more known for its fruits in the past. The fruits are edible in autumn after they have softened and there are records of them being sold in bunches at markets because they were so sweet that children loved them. Households in southern England used to pick the fruits and string them together over a hearth so that the heat could ripen them. Once ripe children were allowed to pick off the individual berries as sweets.

Tree lore and folklore

There is a great deal of folklore surrounding the fruits but it is somewhat confused. The fruits can be made into an acoholic drink and it is still debated whether the fruits were called Chequers and gave their names to the pubs- Chequers Inns- which served the drink or whether the Inns came first and gave their name to the fruit! The fruits can also be used to give flavour to other acoholic drinks such as whisky in the same way that sloe gin is made with blackthorn berries

Twigs, buds and fruit

Wild service flowers

Autumn leaf

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees