Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Anthony Darby on June 03, 2011, 07:38:52 AM
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Trying to identify these trees growing in may daughter's school grounds. Tree 1: Not seen the flowers, but it has a seed pod shaped a bit like an acorn but splits in half from the tip. It has tiny paper-thin winged seeds inside it. Tree 2 is a conifer that reminds me of the larch (but that's something completely different).
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Paulownia tomentosa ('Foxglove Tree'; 'Princess Tree').
It's reasonably hardy in the southern half of the UK.
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Tree 2 is a Cedrus. Maybee Cedrus deodora.
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Gosh, that was quick. Thanks. 8) The cedar pollen clogs up the filter on the school's swimming pool in late summer.
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Here are a three more that have me stumped.
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Tree 3 looks like a Juniperus.
Tree 4 I only know as shrubs. I think it is Arbutus unedo ?
Tree 5 looks from the fruits in the last picture as a Juniperus, but no idea of the species.
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The smooth trunk of #4 makes me think of Myrtus luma but probably Onion is right.
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Tree 4 isn't Arbutus as I have grown that tree and am familiar with it on my travels through the Mediterranean region. The fruits on this tree are smooth like the leaves, which are very like those of Ficus benjamina. These trees grow quite big. I'll try to get some close ups.
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Here are some more pics of trees 4 and 5 plus another couple I spotted today - trees 6 and 7!
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Paulownia tomentosa ('Foxglove Tree'; 'Princess Tree').
It's reasonably hardy in the southern half of the UK.
Isn't it hardy in the northern UK? My tree seems to be perfectly happy with prolonged sub-zero temperatures, the roots completely frozen for months and has survived -23C. Do I just have a good provenience or are there other climatic factors?
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Paulownia tomentosa is hardy here in Germany. Seedlings seem to like dry and rather uncomfortable places like walls and crevices near old buildings. Not as invasive as Ailanthus though.
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That reminded me of this picture of what I think is Paulownia growing on the ruins of Wolsey castle in Winchester, England!
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I don't think hardiness is a problem at Howick Intermediate school if this bottle brush tree and its associated under-planting is to go by?
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Paulownia tomentosa ('Foxglove Tree'; 'Princess Tree').
It's reasonably hardy in the southern half of the UK.
Isn't it hardy in the northern UK? My tree seems to be perfectly happy with prolonged sub-zero temperatures, the roots completely frozen for months and has survived -23C. Do I just have a good provenience or are there other climatic factors?
Stephen - I think you have one of very good provenance. I know of only one here in Nova Scotia that doesn't routinely freeze back to the ground. None of the ones that freeze back are unlikely to have seen a temperature of -23c since they have been grown. Our growing season is too short or there's not enough heat in our season to ripen wood properly.
johnw - another week of cloud and rain
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Here are some more pics of trees 4 and 5 plus another couple I spotted today - trees 6 and 7!
No idea, Anthony. Send you a PM. Have a adress from New Zealand.
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No 6 could be the native Broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (or is it Griselina?)
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No 6 could be the native Broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (or is it Griselina?)
Looks right Lesley.
No idea, Anthony. Send you a PM. Have a adress from New Zealand.
Thanks Uli.
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Stephen - I think you have one of very good provenance. I know of only one here in Nova Scotia that doesn't routinely freeze back to the ground. None of the ones that freeze back are unlikely to have seen a temperature of -23c since they have been grown. Our growing season is too short or there's not enough heat in our season to ripen wood properly.
johnw - another week of cloud and rain
Trondheim near where I live has significantly lower maximum temperatures throughout the year - the two figures show a comparison of Trondheim and Halifax for 1) average max and 2) average min temperatures (your winters are colder normally):
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No 6 could be the native Broadleaf, Griselinia littoralis (or is it Griselina?)
'Tis spelled Griselinia, Lesley, since 1846 ..... though, in 1844, it was called Pukateria littoralis
Reported as a synonym for Griselinia littoralis with original publication details: Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. III, 2: 120 1844.
Wonder why the earlier name didn't stick? ???
Griselinia is a most obliging shrub... stems cut for flower arrangements last for ages, allowing new blooms to refresh the display while retaining the evergreen foliage, then will root in water and give you new plants .... yes, very obliging, if a smidgeon tender in the worst winters here.
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It's grown as an evergreen hedge here, but can grow to 20 metres. In most of New Zealand it is called "broadleaf".
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if a smidgeon tender in the worst winters here.
They were all killed by the frost here last winter and I now have an extra 35sq yards of garden when the next door neighbours removed their dead hedge and built a wall. ;D Waiting on the neighbours on the other side to remove theirs. ::)
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Stephen - I think you have one of very good provenance. I know of only one here in Nova Scotia that doesn't routinely freeze back to the ground. None of the ones that freeze back are unlikely to have seen a temperature of -23c since they have been grown. Our growing season is too short or there's not enough heat in our season to ripen wood properly.
johnw - another week of cloud and rain
Trondheim near where I live has significantly lower maximum temperatures throughout the year - the two figures show a comparison of Trondheim and Halifax for 1) average max and 2) average min temperatures (your winters are colder normally):
Interesting Stephen. Perhaps our shorter growing season combined with our more protracted cold does the Paulownias in.
johnw
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Could tree 7 be the Indian bead tree (Melia azedarach)?
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I checked another specimen of tree 6. The crushed leaves are very aromatic - reminiscent of eucalyptus or camphor.
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Yes, maybe. There are certainly heaps of them around Auckland.
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I think it's a camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora). The leaves look right and the smell is definitely camphor.
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Still trying to identify this tree. It's now flowering.
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Still trying to identify this tree. It's now flowering.
Yup, that is most certainly a tree.
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Agreed ;D
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Still trying to identify this tree. It's now flowering.
Yup, that is most certainly a tree.
I'm not too sure. It has several stems/trunks so some might call it a shrub.
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Still trying to identify this tree. It's now flowering.
Yup, that is most certainly a tree.
I'm not too sure. It has several stems/trunks so some might call it a shrub.
They might, Gerry, that's a good point. The stems are fat enough and tall enough to qualify as a tree in MY manual on tree idents, though! (That's one of the range of Maggi Young self help books.... out of print, sadly :'( )
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Still trying to identify this tree. It's now flowering.
Yup, that is most certainly a tree.
I'm not too sure. It has several stems/trunks so some might call it a shrub.
Its definitely not a shrub, as a shrub is a drink made from citrus juice, water, sugar and rum you can add almond extract if you want.
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Its definitely not a shrub, as a shrub is a drink made from citrus juice, water, sugar and rum you can add almond extract if you want.
Gerraway?!! Learn something new every day in this Forum, and no mistake! ;D
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No, it's what you say when you want someone to be quiet, and you've got a cold...... shurrub
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Tree different opinions then.
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I'm going to send an army of people in your directions to sort you out, or I could perhaps make a trunk call and reverse the charge!
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You have a link there Anthony. Why don't you click on it?
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Link? :o
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Look at the first of your two pics dear boy, in Reply No 26. ;D
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Lesley, you are very clever girl! ;D
Lina.
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Some sort of Eugenia or Syzy... whatever it's called these days?
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Look at the first of your two pics dear boy, in Reply No 26. ;D
Doh! ::)
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Some sort of Eugenia or Syzy... whatever it's called these days?
Brilliant. Thanks. I think Syzygium smithii fits the bill?
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This link shows several Lilly Pillys, and the one named Acmena smithii (formerly known as Eugenia smithii) looks like your tree.
http://anpsa.org.au/APOL30/jun03-6.html#photo3
An attractive tree, never heard of them (Lilly Pilly trees) before. Maybe Lesley can enlighten us on the story behind the common name.
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Well I do like the name Lillypilly very much but I suspect our Australian friends will know more about it than I do. :D
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This link shows several Lilly Pillys, and the one named Acmena smithii (formerly known as Eugenia smithii) looks like your tree.
http://anpsa.org.au/APOL30/jun03-6.html#photo3
An attractive tree, never heard of them (Lilly Pilly trees) before. Maybe Lesley can enlighten us on the story behind the common name.
Yep. It's now Syzygium smithii.
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Well I do like the name Lillypilly very much but I suspect our Australian friends will know more about it than I do. :D
Oops, that's right... NZ is not the same as Australia... although relatively close ;D
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Thanks for your help guys. CD Rom with 40 tree species photographed and described now finished and delivered to Howick Intermediate School. ;D
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Well I do like the name Lillypilly very much but I suspect our Australian friends will know more about it than I do. :D
Oops, that's right... NZ is not the same as Australia... although relatively close ;D
As Canada is relatively close to the USA and Scotland to England. The smaller we are, the less we like to be lumped with our larger neighbours. At least there's some sea betweeen US and THEM. :D
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Some friends of mine were travelling through Alabama a few years ago and were muttering about the flight costs to the staff in the motel they'd booked into for their first night. Asked where they come from they replied "Stirling in Scotland". Couldn't you have come by bus, it's a lot cheaper, was the suggestion! ::)
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Some years ago I bought a towel in Wellington and had to have it sent as it was to be hand embroidered with some initials. Gave them my Timaru address and "Is that in the North Island?" OK so it isn't Paris or London but Wellingtonians should know the cities of their own little country.
But this isn't the moan thread. Weather man Jim Hickey, the idiot, gave Dunedin 19 today. We had 32 here. I know, I was working out in the sun all day. It's 11pm now and still 28C. I don't want to go to bed I won't sleep in this heat.
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16oC and very wet in Auckland this evening. Heaven's opened just as I drove in Auckland airport. Vivienne was happy to be back! ::)