What Does Sorbus Mean in Latin?

The Latin name sorbus is from a root for "red, reddish-brown" (PIE *sor-/*ser-); English sorb is attested from the 1520s in the sense "fruit of the service tree", adopted via French sorbe from Latin sorbum "service-berry". Sorbus domestica is also known as "whitty pear", the adjective whitty meaning "pinnate".

What does Sorbus mean?

1 capitalized : a genus of trees and shrubs (family Rosaceae) distinguished from Pyrus and Malus by the pinnate leaves, three styles, and carpels that are not cartilaginous — see mountain ash. 2 plural -es : any tree of the genus Sorbus.

Is Sorbus an ash tree?

Sorbus trees are commonly known as Rowan, Mountain Ash or Whitebeam trees; notably, despite the common name of 'Mountain Ash', these trees are not related to ash trees – but some varieties do have similar leaves to that of an ash.