service tree

Definitions

Either of two rare Old World deciduous trees, Sorbus domestica or Sorbus torminalis.

Equivalents

Examples

“Wild cherry and rowan, as well as wild apple, wild pear, wild service tree, whitebeam, and true service tree, are all affected by being nibbled by voles, mice and other wild animals.”

“In England, the wild service tree (sorbus torminalis) is regarded as an indicator of ancient woodland although there is little written about it in books on the subject.”

“The wild service tree is very local in our study⟳ area.[…]At the time when these wild service trees had ripe fruit the much more abundant hawthorns, as well as a number⟳ of other plants, were providing alternative sources of fruit, which were probably safer to exploit than the service tree’s fruit 3—15 m up on terminal twigs of the leafless branches.”

CEFR level