Hedlundia arranensis
Credits
New article for Trees and Shrubs Online.
Recommended citation
'Hedlundia arranensis' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Genus
Synonyms
- Pyrus arranensis (Hedl.) Druce
- Sorbus arranensis Hedl.
- Sorbus intermedia var. arranensis (Hedl.) Rehder
Editorial Note
The text below is that of Bean (Bean 1981) who discussed this taxon under the name Sorbus arranensis, beneath his article on S. minima (now Hedlundia minima). We have created this hybrid article – Bean’s text under the correct modern name, with appropriate synonymy – whilst we await sponsorship to enable a full revision of this genus to be written. We are re-organising the Sorbus sensu lato articles in this way to enable a new revision of Sorbus sensu stricto to commence in 2023, and to bring the nomenclature of this complex group of plants up to date in line with modern treatments.
Bean’s mentions of S. lancifolia (now Hedlundia lancifolia) and S. leyana (now H. leyana) are retained here for the time being, but template articles for both taxa have been created under the correct names with appropriate synonymy.
TC, September 2023.
S. arranensis Hedl. S. intermedia var. arranensis (Hedl.) Rehd. – Very like the preceding [S. minima, see Hedlundia minima] in foliage, but the leaves less straight-sided in outline, elliptic or rhombic-elliptic, more deeply lobed, the lobes extending one-half to three-quarters the way to the midrib and on the average with one more pair of lateral veins. There is little difference in the flowers or fruits. S. arranensis is an endemic of the Isle of Arran known since the early 19th century but confused with S. intermedia and S. hybrida until Hedlund distinguished it. It too is a triploid apomict probably of the same parentage as S. minima. Although now extinct there S. rupicola is known to have grown on the island in the last century.
Although not ranking high as an ornamental these two species [H. minima and H. arranensis] are of graceful habit and attractive both in flower and fruit besides being of interest as endemic British species with no counterpart on the continent except in Norway. Of the Norwegian species S. lancifolia Hedl. is in cultivation in Britain and has about the same garden value as our species.
Another British endemic in this group is S. leyana Wilmott known only from one locality in Breconshire. For this see Clapham Tutin and Warburg Flora of the British Isles.
