Sorbus randaiensis

Sorbus randaiensis[1] is a species of deciduous tree in the family Rosaceae. It is endemic to the mountain areas of central Taiwan, with altitude 1,800m to 3,200m, mostly spotted in the forest of Xueshan, Hehuan Mountain, Mount Xiluan, and Nenggao Mountain.[2] It is a tree 3–8 m tall with white flowers and reddish fruit.[3]

Sorbus randaiensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Sorbus
Species:
S. randaiensis
Binomial name
Sorbus randaiensis
(Hayata) Koidz., 1913
Synonyms
List
  • Pyrus aucuparia var. randaiensis Hayata
  • Pyrus randaiensis (Hayata) Hayata
  • Pyrus aucuparia var. trilocularis Hayata
  • Pyrus trilocularis Hayata
  • Sorbus rufoferruginea var. trilocularis (Hayata) Koidz.
  • Sorbus trilocularis (Hayata) Masam.

Naming

It was first described as Pyrus aucuparia var. randaiensis by Bunzō Hayata in 1911, [4] then placed in Sorbus by Gen'ichi Koidzumi in 1913.[5]

Its species epithet randaiensis implies that the first type specimen was collected at Mount Xiluan.[2][lower-alpha 1]

Description

Deciduous trees with obvious lenticel on the branches.

Leaf

Alternate, odd number pinnate leaves, with leaflets 15–21. Leaflets without petiole, shaped from long oval to lanceolate, 3–4 cm in length, 8–12 cm in width. The front end tapered, and the basal part skew, circled or obtuse. Margin jagged. Petiole with groove, and with short furs when young.

Flower

Terminal corymbs inflorescence. Pedicels are short, about 3–4 mm in length. Petals 5, white. Hypanthium with long furs, triangle shaped. Stamens 15–20, Carpels 3–5, isolated. Styles 3–5, isolated or basal synthetic. Flower perigynous.

Fruit

Schizocarp, berry-like, globular with diameter 7 mm. The front end has the remaining traces of stigma and calyx. Turn rubine at maturation.[2][6]

Phenology

First leaf for the spring sprouts during April to May. Inflorescence is on about May to June. Around September to October, their fruits ripen with rubine color. And in the October to November, their leaves turn yellow or red before falling down.[2][7]

Uses

Medicine

Its fruit, stem, and bark can be used as medicine. Although tasting bitter, it is a cure for chronic bronchitis and cough with phlegm, and is spleen-tonifying.

Ornamental

It is eye-catching with their beautifully-shaped appearance from branching to flowers, especially the amazing change of leaves to red and rubine fruits in October.

Food

The fruits are with juicy texture and sweetness, tasting delicious.[2]

Notes
  1. Apparently based on the Japanese pronunciation of the character 巒.

References
  1. 昆明植物研究所. "台湾花楸". 《中国高等植物数据库全库》. 中国科学院微生物研究所. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
  2. "森態資料庫介紹 | 台灣山林悠遊網". recreation.forest.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 2017-04-03.
  3. Lu Lingdi and Stephen A. Spongberg. "Sorbus randaiensis". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  4. Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 30(1): 98. 1911.
  5. Koidzumi, The Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo, Japan 34(2): 52. 1913.
  6. "巒大花楸 Sorbus randaiensis - Plants of TAIWAN 台灣植物資訊整合查詢系統". tai2.ntu.edu.tw. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  7. 雪霸國家公園 (2010-09-17). "巒大花楸". 雪霸國家公園. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
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