Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) - leaves close up - July 2018

===General information=== This stunning whitebeam tree has foliage which emerges from purple shoots in the spring, soft and silvery-white. As the seasons progress the leaves harden to become a more distinct grey on the underside and green on the surface. The clusters of creamy white flowers appear in April and May, followed by bright orange-red fruit in the autumn time, when the leaves turn a golden brown before falling. Whitebeam is a broadleaf deciduous tree native to southern England, though widely planted in the north of the UK. It is compact and domed, mature trees can grow to a height of 15m. The bark and twigs are smooth and grey, and the shoots are brick red in sunlight, but greyish green in shade. The leaf buds are green and pointed and the leaf stalks are short. They are thick, oval and irregularly toothed, with the underneath covered in white, felt-like hair. When the leaves first unfold they look like magnolia flowers. They fade to a rich russet colour before falling in autumn. Whitebeam is hermaphrodite, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. The five-petalled flowers appear in clusters in May, and are pollinated by insects. The flowers develop into scarlet berries, which ripen in late summer or autumn. It is commonly grown in parks and gardens, though is quite rare in the wild. The flowers are pollinated by insects and the berries favoured by birds. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of a number of moths, including...