NEN Gallery

This tree has some leaves like whitebeam and others more lobed and may be a hybrid between whitebeam and the Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis), the hybrid is known as broadleaved Whitebeam (S. x latifolia). Whitebeam is a tree that has a regular crown in the open and steeply rising branches when it grows in a wood. It can grow up to 20m high. The leaves are dull green above and have thick white hairs on the underside. The leaves margins are toothed. Small white flowers about 1.5cm across appear in May and June and scarlet spherical or oblong fruits by September on Whitebeam and brown orange berries on Broad-leaved Whitebeam. It grows in woods, by roadsides and on scrubland. Picture taken near Old Warden, Bedforshire May 18th 2006.