Karpatiosorbus admonitor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Karpatiosorbus admonitor |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Karpatiosorbus
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| Species: |
admonitor
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| Synonyms | |
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Sorbus admonitor M.Proctor |
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The Karpatiosorbus admonitor, also known as the no parking whitebeam, is a special type of whitebeam tree. It grows only in Devon, United Kingdom. Before 2017, it was called Sorbus admonitor.
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Discovering the No Parking Whitebeam
This tree has a funny name because of where the first one was found. It was growing next to a lay-by (a small parking area) near Watersmeet in North Devon. There was even a "no parking" sign nailed right onto the tree!
Scientists first noticed this tree was different in the 1930s. A botanist named E. F. Warburg saw its leaves were very deeply lobed. But it wasn't until 2009 that it was officially named a new species. This happened after many tests and studies.
Today, scientists believe there are at least 110 of these trees. Their numbers seem to be staying steady. The leaves of the no parking whitebeam have deeper cuts or "lobes" than another local tree, the Devon whitebeam.
How Scientists Named the Tree
A team of scientists led by Dr. Tim Rich helped name this tree as a new species. Dr. Rich works at the National Museum Wales. Other experts from universities like Bristol, Exeter, Oxford, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also helped.
They announced this new species, along with thirteen other Sorbus species, in a science journal called Watsonia. Dr. Rich said that these new whitebeam trees likely "developed recently." He also sees them as "examples of ongoing evolution of new species." This means new types of plants are still forming today!
In 2017, scientists Kurtto and Sennikov moved many whitebeam species, including the no parking whitebeam, into a new group called Karpatiosorbus. These trees are a mix of two different plant groups that used to be part of the Sorbus family.
What Makes This Tree Special?
The main example tree used for studying this species is a large one found above a rocky slope at Watersmeet. This special tree was studied on October 10, 2007. The no parking whitebeam is part of a group of trees known as the Karpatiosorbus latifolia group.
Comparing It to Other Trees
The no parking whitebeam looks a lot like the Devon whitebeam. However, its leaves have deeper lobes (cuts). These cuts go 10–23% of the way to the middle vein of the leaf. In the Devon whitebeam, they only go 6–18%. The leaves of the no parking whitebeam are also shinier.
Where It Grows
This tree is endemic to the Watersmeet area. This means it grows naturally only in this small region. There are at least 108 trees in the East Lyn Valley. Two more trees are found nearby above Sillery Sands, near Lynmouth. The Devon whitebeam does not grow in this specific area. Scientists have not yet found the two species growing together.
Its Conservation Status
Because the no parking whitebeam grows in such a small area, it is listed as Endangered by the IUCN. This group helps protect plants and animals.
However, the number of these trees is stable. Also, efforts are being made to protect them outside of their natural habitat. Most of the areas where K. admonitor grows are already protected places.
