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Cheddar Whitebeam

Sorbus cheddarensis

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
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Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae (Rose)
Also in this family:
Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Service Tree, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Lady's-mantle, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairless Lady's-mantle, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Lady's-mantle, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Slender-spined Bramble, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry
Type:
Deciduous tree
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
7 metres tall
Habitats:
Woodland.

Flower:
֍
White, 5 petals
 
Clusters of white flowers.
Fruit:
The fruit is a berry.
Leaves:
Broadly oval-shaped leaves that are greyish-white on the undersides.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen  

Other Information

Summary

Sorbus cheddarensis is a species of whitebeam tree native to Cheddar Gorge, located in the Mendips of Somerset, England. The species was discovered and described by Libby Houston in 2009. It is a small tree, growing up to 7 metres (23 feet) tall, with oval-shaped leaves. It is closely related to the twin-cliffs whitebeam (Sorbus eminentiformis) and the round-leaved whitebeam (Sorbus eminens). It is considered to be endangered due to the limited geographical range and low population.

Blog

Cheddar Whitebeam: A Rare and Endangered Species of Tree

Cheddar Whitebeam, also known as Sorbus cheddarensis, is a rare and endangered species of tree found only in the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, England. This tree is considered a local endemic, meaning it is found in a specific, limited geographic area and nowhere else in the world.

The Cheddar Whitebeam tree is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall. It has a distinctive appearance with smooth grayish-brown bark, glossy green leaves, and clusters of white flowers in the spring. The leaves are serrated and have a unique shape, which sets the Cheddar Whitebeam apart from other species of Whitebeams. The tree also produces small, red berries in the autumn that are popular with birds.

The Cheddar Whitebeam is considered endangered due to the limited geographic area it is found in, and because of habitat loss. The Cheddar Gorge is a popular tourist destination, and the expansion of tourist facilities and infrastructure has had a negative impact on the tree's habitat. Additionally, the tree is also threatened by the spread of non-native plant species that compete for resources and space.

Despite its endangered status, efforts are being made to protect and conserve the Cheddar Whitebeam. The tree is protected by law, and various conservation organizations are working to restore its habitat and protect it from further threats. Additionally, the tree is being cultivated and propagated in botanical gardens, ensuring that it will not become extinct in the future.

The Cheddar Whitebeam is a unique and valuable species of tree that is found only in the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, England. Due to its endangered status, it is important that we work to protect and conserve this tree for future generations to enjoy. Whether you are a botanist, nature enthusiast, or simply interested in rare and endangered species, the Cheddar Whitebeam is a tree worth discovering.

The Cheddar Whitebeam is not only unique and rare, but also has a rich cultural and historical significance. The tree has been present in the Cheddar Gorge for thousands of years, and has been a source of food, shelter, and medicine for the local people. The tree's wood is hard and durable, making it ideal for building and carving.

The Cheddar Whitebeam is also a crucial component of the ecosystem in the Cheddar Gorge. The tree provides habitat and food for many different species of animals, including birds, insects, and small mammals. It is also an important source of nectar for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths, which are essential for maintaining the health and diversity of the ecosystem.

In recent years, the Cheddar Whitebeam has gained recognition for its unique and valuable genetic resources. Scientists have discovered that the tree has a high level of genetic diversity, making it a valuable resource for conservation and breeding programs. The tree's genes could be used to improve the resistance of other Whitebeam species to diseases, pests, and environmental stressors, contributing to the preservation and improvement of other Whitebeam species.

In conclusion, the Cheddar Whitebeam is not only a rare and endangered species of tree, but also a valuable component of the ecosystem and a rich cultural and historical resource. Its conservation is essential for maintaining the health and diversity of the Cheddar Gorge, and for preserving its unique and valuable genetic resources.