[6] The term sorb apple has been used recently but completely without foundation, it is another example of a name being attributed to the wrong species.

It is endemic to the British Isles, growing wild in areas of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and south-east Ireland as a native and north-east Ireland as an introduction.

It probably did not exist before the last ice age, arising from a hybrid between Sorbus torminalis, the wild service tree, and another species of whitebeam.

It is a close relative of the Watersmeet whitebeam, Karpatiosorbus admonitor, and two other British natives and around 40 species in Europe.

The leaves are entire, lobed, dark green above, the underside has a dense layer of grey hairs.