Following the RHS Woody Plants Committee meeting on the 18 September 2008 at Wisley, HUGH McALLISTER AND KEITH RUSHFORTH thought it might be helpful to draw together their personal conclusions on the Thibetica group within the genus Aria. (This group is often treated as part of Sorbus but the authors restrict Sorbus to the rowans.). Their view is that this is a natural group extending along the Himalaya and into North Burma and China and that they are trees growing in the upper deciduous and within the conifer (mainly but not exclusively Abies) zones from c. 2,500 - 3700m.