Sometimes called Whitty or Whitten Pear, or Choke Pear for the hazard its apple- or pear-shaped fruit poses to young children. Also simply Service-tree, the prefix 'True' distinguishing it from Wild Service-tree (Torminalis glaberrima). Its status in Britain is disputed and, though long-established, it remains very scarce. It is a neophyte in Ireland.

Native to a core area around the Mediterranean basin, and more scattered across north-west Europe.

Syn. Sorbus domestica. A diploid, sexually reproducing species, though flowering is sporadic and rarely sets viable seed in cooler climes. It is classified by two fruit forms, f. pomifera (apple-shaped) and f. pyrifera (pear-shaped), and reproduces effectively by root suckers. Long-lived (1,000 years or more).

Medium (20-25m), or prostrate on exposed cliffs, with spreading branches and frequent root suckers. Bark smooth grey, maturing red-brown, flaky and finely fissured. Twigs soon glabrous; buds sticky, glossy green (15mm), pointed. Leaves 12-24cm, compound pinnate, usually with 6-8 pairs of narrow-oblong toothed leaflets plus a similar terminal one, grey-downy then glabrous, on a 25-60mm petiole. Flowers creamy or pink-flushed (13-18mm) in a round-pyramidal corymb (April-June). Fruit an apple- or pear-shaped pome ('sorb', 18-40mm). Rowan differs: brown buds, dissimilar fruit.

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) is the main vector for dispersal in some parts of Europe.

Lack of effective natural regeneration. Easily overlooked, leading to accidental clearance especially in scrubby areas. In woodlands, overshading of larger trees limits regeneration and survival.

The fruit is astringent until bletted, becoming brown and sweet. In mainland Europe used to produce alcoholic drinks. Its timber is rarely available but highly valuable.