service tree

plural service trees

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

   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.

   2002, Mélusine Draco, Paul Harriss, Root & Branch: British Magical Tree Lore, page 102

   2 more 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.

   2000, F. W. M. Vera, Grazing Ecology and Forest History, page 341

   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.

   2010, Barbara Snow, David Snow, Birds and Berries, page 54