IDENTIFICATION

It is a deciduous tree (8 to 20 m high) with a smooth and greyish coloured bark, cracked on older specimens. It has an oval and very branched shape. Young branches are hairy and have plenty of grey spots. The leaves are simple, of a somewhat oval shape, with a deeply serrated edge, sometimes with a side-lobe and a rounded base. The leaf beam lacks furs and the underside is densely covered with furs giving it a white cottony aspect.  The flowers, of a white colour, are grouped in corymbs, upon large peduncles and also covered with furs. The fruit, a kind of small apple, is of a quite rounded shape, sometimes looking like a pear, red and with up to 300 lenticels (black coloured spots).

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

The whitebeam grows in gall oaks forests, mixed forests, holm oaks and even pine forests. Sometimes on the external edges of these forest masses, between scrubs and rocky areas. It is indifferent to the kind of substrate (it can grow on both acid and basic soils).and appears from the sea level to up to 2200 meters above sea level. It is a typical species from communities created by trees and medium sized bushes, whether deciduous or marcarescent species (keeping dry leaves until the following year) on xerophyla (bearing drought very well) or hygrophila formations (living in very wet areas).

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

It is a monoecious species with hermaphrodite flowers (male and female flowers at the same time on a single plant). Flowering takes place in May. Flowers are pollinated by insects, most of all solitary bees, flies, mosquitoes and beetles. These insects scarcely visit its flowers, so a great part of the fruits production must be made by partenogesis (seeds and fruit production without fertilization). The fruits ripen between September and October. Seed dispersion is aided by frugivorous birds (feeding on fruits), basically blackbirds and thrushes. Seeds present lethargy, as the pulp contains substances that impede germination. 

WHERE CAN WE SEE IT IN THE MALAGA PROVINCE?

In the Malaga province, it can be found in medium and high mountains. It is easily found in the highest parts of mountain ranges like the Camarolo saw, Sierra de las nieves and Almijara. On the Great Path, it can be detected on stages 6, 11 and 23.

CURIOUS FACTS

Its wood is of a good quality, very appreciated in joinery as it is easy to carve and polish. In traditional medicine, its fruits are very appreciated for their multiple beneficial properties to prevent intestinal disorders. In some countries of central Europe, some jellies are made with the fruits to accompany venison ragouts. It is a threatened species in Andalusia and it is part of the Andalusian Wildlife Species under Special Protection List.

SIMILAR SPECIES

It can be confused with other similar rosaceae species. It is one of the scarce tree-bearing species. In young and small sized specimens, the leaves must be observed to distinguish it: the colour difference between the beam and the underside makes this species unmistakable in the natural environment.