Endemic Whitebeams of the UK and Ireland

Whitebeams are a diverse group of trees in the genus Sorbus that are small to medium in size. Alongside the familiar rowans and service trees (also in the genus Sorbus), there are an additional 50 or so species occurring in the British Isles – of which 43 are native and around 30 of which are endemic! Endemic species naturally occur in only one specific geographic area and nowhere else in the world.

In this webinar, James Harding-Morris will discuss some of the more widespread endemic species, before exploring the stories of some of the rarities that are barely holding on. We’ll also delve into sites that are hotbeds of whitebeam diversity, such as the Avon Gorge, Cheddar Gorge, the Wye Valley and North Devon.

Some of the species that will be spotlighted in this webinar include:

• Round-leaved Whitebeam (Sorbus eminens)
• English Whitebeam (Sorbus anglica)
• No Parking Whitebeam (Sorbus admonitor)
• Catacol Whitebeam (Sorbus pseudomeinichii)
• Menai Strait Whitebeam (Sorbus arvonicola)

Whether you’re a botanist, conservation practitioner, student or arborist, this session will introduce you to the UK and Ireland’s endemic whitebeams, exploring their key ancestors, widespread and rare species, the sites where whitebeam diversity thrives, and the remarkable stories of the archipelago’s most unique and vulnerable trees.