Aria schuwerkiorum
| Aria schuwerkiorum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Aria schuwerkiorum growing in the Altmühltal, Germany | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Aria |
| Species: | A. schuwerkiorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Aria schuwerkiorum (N.Mey.) Mosyakin, Fedor. & McNeill[2] | |
It is endemic to Bavaria, Germany[3] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Aria schuwerkiorum, or Schuwerk's whitebeam,[4] is an apomictic species[3][5] of tree in the family Rosaceae endemic to Bavaria, Germany.[2] It is extremely rare[6][5] and threatened with extinction.[1]
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Aria schuwerkiorum is an up to 10 m tall shrub or tree.[5] The elliptic leaves[5] have a serrate margin.[7] The adaxial leaf surface is shiny[7] and the abaxial leaf surface with 9–10 pairs of veins[5] is pubescent with grey hairs.[7]
Generative characteristics
The dome-shaped, 8–12 cm wide inflorescence bears white flowers.[5] The white, basally pubescent petals are 3.5 mm long, and 7 mm wide.[5] The relatively large, orange-red, oval fruit[7] is 10 mm long, and 13 mm wide.[5]
Taxonomy
It was first described as Sorbus schuwerkiorum N.Mey. by Norbert Meyer in 2005.[8] It was moved to the genus Aria (Pers.) J.Jacq. ex Host as Aria schuwerkiorum (N.Mey.) Mosyakin, Fedor. & McNeill by Sergei Leonidovich Mosyakin, Mykola Mykhaylovych Fedoronchuk, and John McNeill in 2025.[9] It was first discovered by Ruth Schuwerk and und Herbert Schuwerk in 1985.[7]
Etymology
The specific epithet schuwerkiorum honours Ruth Schuwerk and Herbert Schuwerk.[7][5]
Distribution and habitat
Aria schuwerkiorum is endemic to Bavaria, Germany, where it grows in two different locations in a small area of only 3 km2 on the edges of deciduous forest and on rocks[1] on calcareous ground[5] at elevations of 400–520 m above sea level.[1]
Conservation
It is a critically endangered species with a very restricted distribution and a small population of only 25 mature and 15 juvenile individuals.[1] Landowners were informed of the occurrence of Aria schuwerkiorum on their property, and all individual trees were marked.[5] The trees are being fenced off to protect them against grazing animals.[7] State funding has been made available for the purpose of Aria schuwerkiorum conservation.[10][7] It is cultivated in ex-situ conservation collections.[11][12][13]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Beech, E.; Meyer, N.; Rivers, M.C. (2017). "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : e.T86098673A86134783. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Mosyakin, Fedor. & McNeill. "Aria schuwerkiorum". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". Botanischer Informationsknoten Bayern. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Blaich, G. "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Donth, K.-H. "Artenportrait: Die Gredinger Mehlbeere (Sorbus schuwerkiorum)". Kreisgruppe Roth BUND Naturschutz in Bayern e.V. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". Rote Liste Zentrum. January 14, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Regierung von Mittelfranken. (2016). Die Gredinger Mehlbeere [Sorbus schuwerkiorum]: Eine endemische, weltweit einzigartige Baumart. Ansbach.
- ↑ "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". International Plant Names Index. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Mosyakin, S. L., Fedoronchuk, M. M., & McNEILL, J. (2025). Simplifying the nomenclature of Sorbus sensu lato: new nomenclatural solutions in Aria and Hedlundia (Rosaceae). Ukrainian Botanical Journal, 82(3), 206-224.
- ↑ Zehm, A. (January 12, 2017). "Artenhilfsprojekt für die endemische Gredinger Mehlbeere". Bayerische Akademie Für Naturschutz Und Landschaftspflege. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Friedl, P., Hierneis, C., Weber, L., & Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz. (2025). Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Patrick Friedl, Christian Hierneis, Laura Weber BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN vom 19.12.2024 Schutz der Endemiten in Bayern. München; Bayerischer Landtag.
- ↑ "Sorbus schuwerkiorum". BGCI PlantSearch. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ HORN, K., KERSKES, A., & WELSS, W. (2012). Erhaltungskulturen bedrohter Pflanzenarten im Botanischen Garten Erlangen—ein aktiver Beitrag zum Artenschutz. RegnitzFlora, Mitt. des VFR, 5, 39-46.