Rowan is attested from the 1520s in the sense "fruit of the service tree", adopted via French "sorbe" from Latin "sorbum" "service-berry". "Sorbus domestica" is also known as "whitty pear", the adjective whitty meaning "pinnate". The name "mountain-ash" for "Sorbus domestica" is due to a superficial similarity of the rowan leaves to those of the ash, not to be confused in "Fraxinus ornus", a true ash that is also known as "mountain ash". "Sorbus torminalis" is also known as "chequer tree"; its fruits, formerly used to flavour beer, are called "chequers", perhaps from the spotted pattern of the fruit. The name
Sorbus randaiensis change of leaves to red and rubine fruits in October. The fruits are with juicy texture and sweetness, tasting delicious. Sorbus randaiensis Sorbus randaiensis is a deciduous tree of family Rosaceae. It is an endemic species in Taiwan and can be found in the mountain areas of middle Taiwan, with altitude 1,800m to 3,200m, mostly spotted in the forest of Xueshan, Hehuan Mountain, , and Nenggao Mountain. It is a tree 3–8 m tall with white flowers and reddish fruit. Koidz., The Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo, Japan 34(2): 52. 1913. (J. Coll. Sci. Univ.