Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Carolyn on December 19, 2016, 09:36:29 PM

Title: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Carolyn on December 19, 2016, 09:36:29 PM

can anyone help to  ID these three trees.

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 19, 2016, 10:40:55 PM

The first looks like a Viburnum, the second is tarata (Lemonwood - Pittosporum eugenioides) and the third looks like Griselinia littoralis.

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Carolyn on December 19, 2016, 10:53:52 PM

Thanks Anthony, I was thinking of pittosporum, but wasn't sure which one. I agree with you about the griselinia too, but remain to be convinced of the viburnum - I grow Viburnum plicatum Mariesii in my garden and I don't see much ressemblance. - or is that quite different anyway?

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 19, 2016, 11:18:49 PM

Cotoneaster glaucophyllus?

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Carolyn on December 19, 2016, 11:33:09 PM

Mmm, the individual flowers do look like cotoneaster flowers, don't they? I have the impression though that these leaves are quite big, like a large-leaved rhododendron. It can be difficult to get a sense of scale from a photo. (I should explain that my son in Wellington sent me these to ID for him)

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Anthony Darby on December 19, 2016, 11:43:02 PM

It can have leaves up to 8 cm long. https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cotoneaster_glaucophyllus.htm

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Carolyn on December 20, 2016, 08:50:16 AM

I have asked my son to measure the leaf length!

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Margaret on December 20, 2016, 06:54:27 PM

Could it be Cotoneaster lacteus?

Title: Re: Three trees growing in Wellington NZ to identify
Post by: Carolyn on December 20, 2016, 09:00:00 PM

Apparently the leaves are 5 - 6cm long, so that fits with cotoneaster. I think it could be either C. glaucophyllus or lacteus, so thanks for your help Anthony and Margaret.
The fruit of C. glaucophyllus contains 2 yellowish and flattened seeds. C. lacteus has 5 seeds in each fruit. My son can complete the ID in autumn then.