Sorbus hupehensis

Description

Sorbus hupehensis (Hupeh rowan or Hubei rowan; Chinese: 湖北花楸; pinyin: hubei huaqiu; literally: "Hubei rowan") is a species of rowan native to central and western China (between Qinghai and Gansu in the west, Yunnan in the south, Jiangxi in the southeast, and Shandong in the east). It is a small deciduous tree growing to 5–10 m tall, with grey-brown to purplish-brown bark. The branches and shoots are slender. The leaves are green above, paler beneath, 10–15 cm long, pinnate with 7-17 narrow oval leaflets 3–5 cm long and 1–1.8 cm broad, with an acute apex, and serrated margins. They change to orange or red in autumn. The flowers are 5–7 mm diameter, with five white petals and 20 yellowish-white stamens; they are produced in corymbs 6–10 cm diameter in late spring to early summer. The fruit is a pome 5–8 mm diameter, bright pink with persistent sepals, maturing in late autumn. There are two varieties: - Sorbus hupehensis var. hupehensis. Leaves with 9-17 narrow leaflets. Most of the species' range. - Sorbus hupehensis var. paucijuga (D.K.Zang & P.C.Huang) L.T.Lu. Leaves with 7-9 broad leaflets. Shandong Province.