Rosaceae FAMILY

Sorbus aria

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no specific information has been seen, the seed, and other parts of the plant, is likely to contain cyanogenic glycosides. When injested, these compounds break down in the digestive tract to release cyanide. Used in small quantities in both traditional and conventional medicine, this exceedingly poisonous compound has been shown to stimulate respiration, improve digestion, and promote a sense of well-being[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. It is also claimed by some to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer - though this claim has been largely refuted. In larger concentrations, however, cyanide can cause gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure leading to death[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ]. The levels of toxin can be detected by the level of bitterness:- sweet almonds, for example, contain only very low levels of it and are safe to eat in quantity, whilst bitter almonds (which are used as a flavouring in foods such as marzipan) contain much higher levels and should only be eaten in very small quantities. Great caution should be employed if the taste is moderately to very bitter[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].

Botanical Description

Sorbus aria is a deciduous tree usually growing from 5 - 15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 25 metress uses. The tree often develops multiple slender trunks[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 1228 Title European Atlas of Forest Tree Species Publication Author San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Dur Website http://10.2788/038466 Publisher European Commission Year 2016 ISBN 978-92-79-52833-0 Description An excellent guide to the forest trees of Europe. It can be downloaded from the Internet ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental and is used as a pioneer when restoring native woodland.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeCentral and S. Europe - Britain to Spain, east to Ukraine and Greece; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

HabitatWoods and scrub, usually on chalk or limestone[ 3 Title Growing Unusual Fruit. Publication Author Simmons. A. E. Publisher David & Charles; Newton Abbot. Year 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7 Description A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them. , 9 Title Edible and Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Launert. E. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2 Description Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information. , 13 Title Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Publication Author Triska. Dr. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3 Description Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore. , 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]. Found mainly in openings and at the edges of limestone beech forests, most commoly in mountainous regions; at elevations up to 1,600 metres, occasionally to 2,150 metres[ 1228 Title European Atlas of Forest Tree Species Publication Author San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Dur Website http://10.2788/038466 Publisher European Commission Year 2016 ISBN 978-92-79-52833-0 Description An excellent guide to the forest trees of Europe. It can be downloaded from the Internet ].