This species was originally included as S. latifolia 'Devon form' (i.e. S. devoniensis) from Watersmeet, but identified as the ‘No Parking Tree’. Then named by M. Proctor in 2009, the specific epithet ‘admonitor’ was initially used by E. F. Warburg as a joke relating to the ‘No Parking’ notice (i.e. to admonish).
The Sorbus genus has recently undergone a comprehensive revision. For Sennikov & Kurtto (2017) have published a new checklist of Sorbus s.l. see our full report, which provides an updated classification of this group according to the latest phylogenetic studies. This revision finally recognises the 5 different subgenus within the original Sorbus genera. Of the species occurring in Britain, the only one that remains in the (Sorbus) genus is Rowan: Sorbus aucuparia L., and its hybrid Sorbus × proctoriana T.C.G.Richs.; Sorbus torminalis is now its own separate genus (Torminalis) Wild Service Tree: Torminalis glaberrima (Gand.) Sennikov & Kurtto. (Syn. Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz.); Sorbus domestica is now its own separate genus (Cormus) True Service Tree: Cormus domestica (L.) Spach (Syn. Sorbus domestica L.); Then of the Whitebeams, they’ve quite rightly been split into three separate genera (Aria), (Hedlundia), and (Karpatiosorbus).
Karpatiosorbus admonitor is a member of subgenus Tormaria with leaves with acute, triangular lobes and greenish-white-tomentose undersides, and orangey-brown fruits. Karpatiosorbus admonitor differs from K. devoniensis in having glossier, more deeply toothed and somewhat narrower leaves; K. devoniensis sensu stricto does not grow in the Watersmeet Valley area and the two species have not been confirmed growing together. Karpatiosorbus admonitor differs from K. subcuneata, with which it does grow, in having broader leaves with rounded bases, and a denser crown.
Karpatiosorbus admonitor has presumably originated from K. devoniensis, to which the peroxidase pattern was most similar (Proctor et al. 1989), rather than as a new primary hybrid between Torminalis and Aria or from K. subcuneata.
Trebrown Nurseries maintains our own seed stands on Trebrown Farm from seed collected under special Natural England license for its species recovery programme.
