Common Name(s):  Rowan, Service Tree, Checker Tree

Scientific Name:  Sorbus spp. (S. aucuparia, S. domestica, S. torminalis)

Distribution:  Primarily Europe; some species are also present in
North America, northern Africa, and Asia

Tree Size:  30-50 ft (9-15 m) tall, 8-16 in (20-40 cm) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight:  48 lbs/ft³ (770 kg/m³)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .64, .77

Janka Hardness:  1,690 lb_f (7,520 N)*
*Estimated hardness based on specific gravity.

Modulus of Rupture:  17,300 lb_f/in² (119.3 MPa)

Elastic Modulus:  1,490,000 lb_f/in² (10.28 GPa)

Crushing Strength:  8,410 lb_f/in² (58.0 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 6.2%, Tangential: 8.4%, Volumetric: 15.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Color/Appearance: No data available.

Grain/Texture: No data available.

Endgrain: Diffuse-porous (or sometimes semi-ring-porous with a greater concentration of pores in earlywood); exclusively solitary (or sometimes in multiples); small pores in no specific arrangement, very numerous; parenchyma not visible with lens;  narrow rays, spacing fairly close.

Rot Resistance: No data available.

Workability: No data available.

Odor: No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Besides the standard health risks associated with any type of wood dust, no further health reactions have been associated with Rowan. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicityand Wood Dust Safetyfor more information.

Pricing/Availability: No data available.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Although S. aucuparia is not listed on the IUCN Red List, there’s a number of obscurer species with varying levels of endangerment.

Common Uses: No data available.

Comments:  S. aucuparia wood is fluorescent, while S.torminalis is reportedly not.

Rowan (sanded)

Rowan (sealed)

Rowan (endgrain)

Rowan (endgrain 10x)