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Unusual or exotic trees : Mesquite.

Unusual or exotic trees : Mesquite.

by Lewis, 24 January, 2020, 2 comments

Mesquite is the name given to a number of leguminous shrubs or trees that belong to the genus Prosopis. Many of these plants are native to southern parts of the United  States and Mexico, though one species is native to South America - Argentina. Generally, they are plants of very dry (arid or xeric) regions.  They have the capacity to form very long, deep roots that seek water deep underground. The trees / shrubs are deciduous and their leaves are pinnate (a compound form of leaf); they are also thorny.  The trees produce flowers through Spring and Summer, and the seeds (beans) form in pods.  The trees can be used as a source of timber (for furniture, and in the past ship building). Read more...
Unusual or exotic trees : the monkey puzzle tree

Unusual or exotic trees : the monkey puzzle tree

by Chris, 15 November, 2019, 1 comments

The monkey puzzle tree is a popular garden tree.  It is so-called as when first seen in this country (in the mid C19th) by Charles Austin, he is alleged to have said that “it would puzzle a monkey to climb that”.  As the tree had no common or popular name, it became the ‘monkey puzzler’ or ‘monkey puzzle tree’.  Its scientific name is Araucaria araucana, and otherwise known as the Chilean Pine or Pehuén.  It is native to the Andes of Chile and Argentina.  Not only is it a long lived tree (with a life span of a thousand plus years) but the species has been around for a long time (in excess of 200 million years).  It is sometimes described as a “living fossil”. A tree can grow to a considerable height - towards 150 feet with a trunk diameter of some five feet. Read more...
holly tree

Unusual or exotic trees – the holly?

by Chris, 18 October, 2019, 2 comments

Holly is not a ’typical’ tree in a number of ways.  For example, it is evergreen but not a conifer.  A holly tree is either male or female. Also, holly leaves have spines and a thick, protective and waxy cuticle.  The word ‘Holly” derives from the Old English “holen” or “holegn”.  Holly was also referred to as ‘holm’, ‘holme’, or ‘hollin’. These names for holly can be useful when examining old maps and ancient texts for references to the historical distribution of holly across the U.K.  It is certainly the case that in the past, the distribution of holly was more widespread; this was true for Needwood Forest in Staffordshire.  Needwood was a significant and ancient midlands forest but after the Enclosure Act of 1803, large numbers of trees were felled.  In his ‘Plant Book’, Professor David Mabberley notes that some 150,000 holly trees were taken from Needwood (about this time or shortly thereafter) to provide bobbins for the cotton mills of Lancashire.  (Bagot’s Wood is said to be the largest existing piece of this ancient woodland).   Read more...
Unusual or exotic trees : The Myrtle family

Unusual or exotic trees : The Myrtle family

by Lewis, 9 August, 2019, 0 comments

The myrtle family includes plants such as the bay rum tree, guava, all spice, eucalyptus and myrtle.  All are woody, with evergreen leaves and produce essential oils.  The Eucalypts are particularly associated with Australasia, with Eucalyptus regnans being the tallest flowering plant in the world (see featured image).  However, one particular genus that has come to prominence in recent years is Leptospermum, largely due to interest in L. scoparium - the Manuka or tea tree.  This grows uncultivated throughout New Zealand and south eastern Australia.  The common name of tea tree comes from the practice of early Australian settlers who infused the leaves in boiling water to make a herbal tea.  The honey produced from the nectar of these trees is much in demand and is being investigated for its anti-bacterial properties.  Manuka honey (as it is generally referred to after the Maori name for the tea tree) Read more...
Unusual or exotic trees : The Quince, Cydonia oblonga.

Unusual or exotic trees : The Quince, Cydonia oblonga.

by Chris, 22 March, 2019, 0 comments

The quince is endemic (native) to south west Asia, the Caucasus; an area occupied by countries like Turkey, Georgia, Northern Iran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia - where it can be found growing on rocky slopes and woodland margins.  The quince can survive in a variety of climates.  It even flourished (in historical times) in the heat of Mesopotamia, however,  in order to flower properly it needs to experience a cool or cold period when the temperatures drop below 45oF. It belongs to the Rosaceae (Rose) family, which also includes apples and pears.  The fruit of the Quince is not dis-similar to a pear but it is generally larger, ‘knobbly’ and a bright ‘golden yellow’ colour.  The tree itself can grow to a height of 5 to 8 metres and to a width of some 5 metres.   Read more...
Unusual or exotic trees : the crab apple or wild apple tree.

Unusual or exotic trees : the crab apple or wild apple tree.

by Lewis, 1 February, 2019, 0 comments

Throughout the U.K, there are various apple trees in our hedgerows and woodlands.  Some of these are crab apple trees (Malus sylvestris), some are cultivated forms of apple (Malus domestica), some are Chinese Crab Apples (Malus hupehensis), some Siberian Crab Apples (Malus baccata) and others are hybrids somewhere in between.   The Chinese and Siberian Crab Apples were sometimes planted by the Forestry Commission in and around picnic areas and conifer plantations. Read more...
leaves of tree of heaven

Unusual or exotic trees – the tree of heaven

by Lewis, 13 December, 2018, 0 comments

The Tree of Heaven or Ailanthus altissima is a species which was introduced to the U.K in 1751 from China.  It arrived in the United States somewhat later, circa 1785 to the Philadelphia area.  It was brought in as an ornamental or exotic tree.  The first introductions were cuttings from male trees.  Ailanthus is a dioecious species, i.e. a tree produces either male or female flowers. So these first trees could not spread or colonise.  However, seeds were then introduced and grown so that there were both male and female trees, and reproduction was possible. The tree has been grown in gardens, parks and civic settings for many years and is ‘valued’ for its rapid growth, attractive foliage [and colourful, winged fruits]. It flowers and fruits well in hot summers. Read more...
Unusual or exotic trees - Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides).

Unusual or exotic trees – Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides).

by Lewis, 6 June, 2018, 3 comments

Whilst not unusual, the laburnum is a poisonous tree that is native to the mountainous areas of Southern Europe. It is a member of the Fabaceae (the pea and bean family). The laburnum is a deciduous tree,  that has trifoliate leaves i.e. each leaf consists of three leaflets (see featured image).   In the Spring, the tree is covered with pendulous clusters of bright yellow flowers.  These flowers are responsible for one of its names -  the golden chain tree (jpgs below).   When fertilised, a pod develops which contains black seeds when ripe. Read more...

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