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Questions and Answers: 2022

Question: Hello, I have a question about Sorbus aucuparia. In the Sorbus key it says it can be distinguished from other …

• Question

  Hello, I have a question about Sorbus aucuparia. In the Sorbus key it says it can be distinguished from other species by the fact that the adaxial surface of its leaves are villous, but then in the page https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/sorbus/aucuparia/ it says that the lower surface of the leaflets are hairy. I thought adaxial = upper surface of the leaf, so is there a mistake somewhere?

  Answer

  Dear SigFig, good morning. These two statements are not in contradiction. One speaks to the adaxial (upper) surface and the other speaks to the abaxial (lower) surface. The taxon page (the second resource you mention) simply provides a greater description (i.e., more characteristics) about the plant. Best wishes.