Sorbus spp.
Specifications
Family
Rosaceae
Species
Sorbus spp.
Description
It is reddish-brown, with a lighter sapwood, rather heavy (volume weight from 0.65 to 0.90), fine-textured and straight-grained, hard, compact and elastic.
Plant morphology
Trees or bushes, they have leaves of variable shape, simple or compound, white flowers gathered in corymbs and red or yellow-brown berries of 10-12 cm or more in cultivated species.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Europe
Habitat and ecology
These species can grow in a variety of habitats, from sea level to over 1,000 meters above sea level. They generally grow in mixed deciduous forests, but also in mountainous spruce forests. They frequently rely on birds for seed dispersal.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It can be used for turning, carving, and carpenter's tools.
Use in musical instruments
The wood of the rowan tree is used to make flutes and other wind instruments. In the past, it was also used to make violin purfling.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
The main threats depend on the species under consideration. In some cases, overgrazing can have a negative impact on population conservation, while in others, the main threat, especially in the past, has been unsustainable forest management and human disturbance. Some species are susceptible to pathogen attacks.
Conservation measures
Many of these species are preserved in ex situ collections (BGCI 2017).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
Torminalis glaberrima LC - Least Concern (2017); Aria edulis LC - Least Concern (2017); Sorbus aucuparia LC - Least Concern (2017); Cormus domestica LC - Least Concern (2017).
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
800
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
High
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
High
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
120
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
Some species of the genus Sorbus have recently been reassigned to other genera. The species indicated in the previous publication, in particular, have undergone the following changes: Sorbus torminalis Crantz has become Torminalis glaberrima (Gand.) Sennikov & Kurtto; Sorbus aria Crantz has become Aria edulis (Willd.) M.Roem.; Sorbus domestica L. has become Cormus domestica (L.) Spach. Sorbus aucuparia L. has retained its taxonomy.