Sorbus anglica
Common names: English Whitebeam
Irish name: Fionncholl
Latin name: Sorbus anglica
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Native, endemic to Britain and Ireland
Tree type: Deciduous broadleaf tree
How it Looks
Shape, bark, twigs
English Whitebeam can appear as a small multi-stemmed shrub or a small tree growing up to 15m tall. The bark of large, older trunks is a light brownish-grey colour.
Buds
The leaf buds have a cone-like shape, are pointed, and display white hairs at their tips and along the edges of the protective scales.
Leaves
The English whitebeam has broad oval leaves on short stems. They are roughly 1.25 longer than they are wide measuring 6.0–12.0 cm long and 4.0–8.5 cm wide. The leaves are lobed with rounded tips and are margined with small, pointed teeth. The upper side of the leaf is dark green, while the underside is greyish-white and hairy. The leaves often undulate, giving them a ‘crinkly’ appearance from a distance.
Flowers
The English whitebeam produces flat-topped clusters of small white five-petaled flowers between early May and early June. The petals, ranging from 6 to 10 mm, are shaped like ovals or circles and are a lovely white colour. The anthers start off pinkish, especially noticeable as the buds open, later turning yellowish with a subtle pink tint. There are 2–3 smooth styles that are separate at the base. This tree is considered an apomictic species, producing seeds without fertilisation, which develop into clones of the parent plant.
Fruits
The flowers develop into clusters of round berries, which start off orangey and turn crimson as they ripen in late August to September. The fruits are slightly wider than they are long, measuring around 9–12 mm in length and 10–13 mm in width. They sometimes have a few lenticels (pours), but most of the time, they have none. They are readily consumed by birds during autumn and winter, which assists in dispersing their seed.
Similar species
Where to Find it
An endemic species to Britain and Ireland, this small tree is only known to be found in scattered locations across southwestern England, Wales and in Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland.
The English Whitebeam is primarily found on rock and quarry faces, narrow ledges, and in scrub or open vegetation. It is rarely found in woodland areas where it would need to compete for light. It often grows in very shallow soils or in crevices and does not do well in dry climates.
Cultural Importance
History | Myth, Legend and Folklore | Literature
Evidence from excavations carried out at prehistoric habitation sites in the Lough Gur landscape, County Limerick indicate whitebeam was being used for firewood in the Late Neolthic/Early Bronze Age period (c. 2500 BC). However, excavations in Edercloon, County Longford, tell us that around the same time, people were using whitebeam wood in the construction of wooden trackways to traverse and access the bog for resources. Charcoal from Bronze Age (c. 2500-800 BC) Burnt mount or Fulachta Fiadh (what are thought to be outdoor cooking areas) sites in Galway, suggest that whitebeam continued to be used for fuel as the prehistoric era progressed.
In early Medieval Ireland, the whitebeam was designated as one of the ‘lower divisions of the wood’ and was possibly used to make cudgels of wood for combat. While it was of lesser value than trees such as oak, one could still be fined as much as a two-year-old heifer for damaging another person’s whitebeam tree. Fragments of whitebeam wood found on excavations at Adare Castle, County Limerick suggest that it may have been used during the mid-late Medieval period (c. 1100-1600 AD) to make wooden artefacts such as pegs for wattling, domestic objects such as wooden bowls, and musical instruments. It is thought that in later periods whitebeam timber was particularly valued for shipbuilding and furniture making.
The Irish name for whitebeam, Fionncholl, literally means white hazel. Unusually, however, the name is not found in Irish placenames.
In other European cultures, whitebeam timber has been used to make chairs, beams, cogs, tools, and wheels for machinery. The fruit although not very pleasant tasting is edible, and in Germany was ground and added to flour for making bread and pastries, hence earning it the name Mehlbeere, meaning Flour Berry. The fruits, leaves and twigs were also used as fodder for Livestock.
Whitebeam trees are thought to have been used in England during the early Medieval period as a boundary-marker.
Historically, the leaves and fruit of the whitebeam were also used in the preparation of various traditional medicines.
Amongst various European cultures, whitebeam was traditionally associated with the qualities of protection, wisdom, spirituality, good luck, fertility and tenacity. It was also believed to have magical properties.
In the Irish myths, the whitebeam is a symbol of royal authority and truth. In some of the stories such as The Wooing of Étaín, Kings and royal messengers are often holding or carrying with them rods or staffs of whitebeam to symbolise their royal connection and authority.
The whitebeam features in Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, The Starlight Night, and in George Meredith’s poem, Love in the Valley, both of which employ the tree to describe a beautiful, emotive nature scene.
Value to Wildlife
The English whitebeams flowers are a great source of nectar for pollinators, while birds enjoy their fruits in the autumn and winter months. The leaves are also the larval food plant for several moth caterpillar species. Additionally, the tree is used by roosting birds and offers important nesting sites.
Threats
With its small population and range, the English whitebeam can be massively impacted by habitat damage and the destruction of individual trees. It is also very palatable to browsing animals such as deer, which is thought to inhibit its expansion.
The bacterial disease fireblight was first recorded in Ireland in 1986, and it was likely introduced via infected imported plants. Fireblight is a highly contagious plant disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. It affects Crataegus (hawthorn), Malus (apple), Pyrus (pear), Crataegus (hawthorn) and Sorbus (Rowan and whitebeams) trees. In 2023, there were seven outbreaks across 11 counties. Symptoms include:
- Wilting and death of flower clusters following blossom infection.
- Withering and death of young shoots
- Leaves showing necrotic patches, which spread from the leaf margin or stem, and generally remains attached to the plant.
- Infected fruit turning brown or black; these become shrivelled but remain attached to the plant.
- Cankering, which may spread into the main stem and kill the plant by ring barking it.
If you find signs of fireblight please submit images to DAFM at: plantsandpests@agriculture.gov.ie
Uses
Whitebeam timber is a type of wood that has many desirable qualities. It is known for being fine and evenly grained, as well as hard and durable. The wood is a matte pinkish-white colour when it is first cut, but as it ages, it turns red with brown veins. These qualities make it a popular choice for wood turning and fine joinery. It is also a valuable source of firewood, producing high-quality charcoal.
References
- Grogan, E. and Eogan, G., 1987. Lough Gur excavations by Seán P. Ó Ríordáin: further Neolithic and Beaker habitations on Knockadoon. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature, 87(c), pp.299-506.
- Bermingham, N., Plunkett, G., Reilly, E. and Stuijts, I. 2009. Revealing the ancient environment of Edercloon, Seanda, 4, 12-15.
- Dunne, L., and Kiely, J. 2013. Archaeological Excavation Report: Adare Castle, Co. Limerick, Eachtra Journal, 16. Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Archaeological report Adare Castle, Co. Limerick | PDF
- Fallon, D. and Tierney, J. 2009. Archaeological Excavation Report: Mackney, Co. Galway, Eachtra Journal, 2. Eachtra Archaeological Projects. Archaeological Excavation Report - E2443 Mackney, Co. Galway | PDF
- Kelly, F. 1999. Trees in Early Ireland, Augustine Henry Memorial Lecture 11th March 1999, Irish forestry: Journal of the Society of Irish Foresters, 56, 39-57.
- McLoughlin, J. 2008. Whitebeam Fionncholl (Sorbus), Magill. Whitebeam Fionncholl (Sorbus) | Magill
- Poetry Foundation. N.d. Love in the Valley by George Meredith, Poetry Foundation. Love in the Valley | The Poetry Foundation
- Poetry Foundation. N.d. The Starlight Night by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Poetry Foundation. The Starlight Night | The Poetry Foundation
- Rich, T. C. G., Houston, L., Robertson, A. and Proctor, M. C. F. 2010. Whitebeams, Rowans and Service Trees of Britain and Ireland. A monograph of British and Irish Sorbus L. B.S.B.I. Handbook No. 14. Botanical Society of the British Isles. London.
- Stroh, P. A., Humphrey, T. A., Burkmar, R. J., Pescott, O. L., Roy, D. B., & Walker, K. J. 2023. BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas
- Welk, E., de Rigo, D., and Caudullo, G. 2016. Sorbus aria in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats. In: San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Durrant, T., Mauri, A. (Eds.), European Atlas of Forest Tree Species. Publ. Off. EU, Luxembourg, pp. e01e816+
- Wild flower Web. N.d. English Whitebeam: Sorbus anglica, Wild flower Web. English Whitebeam Plant Information | Wildflower Web