Catacol whitebeam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catacol whitebeam |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sorbus
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| Species: |
pseudomeinichii
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The Catacol whitebeam (scientific name: Sorbus pseudomeinichii) is an incredibly rare tree. It grows only in one special place: the Isle of Arran in southwest Scotland. This makes it an "endemic" species, meaning it's found nowhere else in the world! For a long time, people thought there was only one living Catacol whitebeam tree left, making it one of the rarest trees on Earth. But exciting news came in 2020 when a second tree was discovered!
The Catacol Whitebeam: Scotland's Rarest Tree
The Catacol whitebeam is a unique tree that developed naturally. It is a type of "hybrid" tree. This means it grew from a mix of two other native trees. These are the rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and the cut-leaved whitebeam (Sorbus pseudofennica). The cut-leaved whitebeam is also a hybrid itself! It comes from a mix of rowan and the Arran whitebeam.
For many years, only two Catacol whitebeam trees were known to exist. People thought only one of them was still alive. This made it the rarest tree in Scotland. It was also tied for the rarest tree in the world with another plant called Wood's cycad. A third young tree was found once, but deer likely destroyed it. Scientists have also grown some seedlings and grafted plants in Edinburgh to help save the species.
A Special Discovery
In 2020, scientists were very excited. They found a second living Catacol whitebeam tree! This was a completely new tree in a new location. It was not one of the two trees that were known before. Dr. Ashley Robertson, a scientist from Bristol University, confirmed this amazing discovery.
This discovery happened after a lot of hard work in the 1990s. Groups like Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh helped. They used special DNA tests to confirm that these trees were a distinct species. This means they are truly unique.
Graeme Walker from SNH explained how special these trees are. He said they are "unique trees which are native to Arran and not found anywhere else in the world." He also mentioned that the Arran whitebeams might be slowly evolving into a new type of tree. Dr. Ashley Robertson added that this is "evolution in action." It shows how new species can develop over time.
Protecting This Rare Tree
The Catacol whitebeam is the third unique whitebeam species found on the Isle of Arran. It has red berries, like a rowan tree. Its leaves are oval-shaped, like a whitebeam tree. The trees are named after Glen Catacol, the area where they were found. The largest known Catacol whitebeam tree might be over 50 years old!
To protect these precious trees, they are currently inside a special fence. This fence keeps deer away, as deer can damage young trees. The fence will be made even bigger. Because the location is very remote, materials for the fence will need to be brought in by helicopter. This shows how much effort is being made to protect this incredibly rare Scottish tree.
