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LGTilley
Yellow Belt
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 89
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
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 Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:37 pm Post subject: Mystery Tree |
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Cab any of you help me identify this mystery tree which grows in my garden? http://www.lgtilley.freeserve.co.uk/mystery.htm I've photographed it last month and this, but the most distinctive thing about it is the intense cinnamon type smell which it gives off, and which wafts right across the garden at this time of year.
It's a fab tree, and I suspect an air layer would make a good bonsai, but all my efforts so far have failed to come up with a name. |
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greenD
White Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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I think i might know what kind of tree we are looking at.
To me it looks like a Nothofagus antarctica, or Antarctic Beech.
Here is an image i found which will help you compare. But in google you will find some articles about this tree i think.
http://www.pharmakobotanik.de/florapat/images/fp003p2.jpg
How lucky you are to have such a tree in your garden. If you manage some air layerings of this tree, i would actually be very interested myself  !!
Good luck with the air layering!
greenD |
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greenD
White Belt
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 5
Location: London
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| Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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I have done some more research, because i am very excited about this tree, i have been looking for this one for some time .
Most trees of the Nothofagus family can be propagated by cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6 - 10cm with a heel in July/August or by air layering.
Apparently the roots are very sensitive to desiccation and extreme care should be taken when transplanting them. During air layering you should control that the soil is always moist.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil that should always be moist. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils in a sunny position.
I translated most of this information from a french page that i found on the net. If you don't speak french, you can still browse through the different species of the Nothofagus family. (No problem if you need some further translations  )
http://nothofagus.free.fr/sommaire.htm
Good luck to you!
greenD |
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LiteratiLarry
Yellow Belt
Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 143
Location: N.E.England
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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I found this:
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Genus of broad-leaved and evergreen trees of the same family (Fagaceae) as beech. There are about 35 species, all native to the southern hemisphere. They have small, oval leaves with finely toothed edges; their fruits are small, bristly husks, similar to those of beech. They are important timber trees, having hard timber like beech, used in building and furniture making.
Deciduous species include the South American roble beech N. obliqua, which grows to 35 m/115 ft, and Antarctic beech N. antarctica, which grows to 15 m/50 ft. Evergreen species include the Australian myrtle beech N. cunninghami and the New Zealand black beech N. solandri, which forms huge forests of trees that can grow to 25 m/80 ft.
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When I first saw your pic of the trunk/bark, and leaves together,(third pic I think) i thought some kind of alder or birch. |
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LGTilley
Yellow Belt
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 89
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
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| Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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| greenD wrote: |
| To me it looks like a Nothofagus antarctica, or Antarctic Beech. |
Thank you. On checking my books and the web sources, you would seem to be right apart from the fact that where specified they say the leaves are about 1" long. The very longest leaf I can find including its stalk is under an inch long. I'd say most of the leaves are a half inch or less.
Maybe it's some other Nothofagus? It's perfectly hardy, under my hard frosts and biting winds. |
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mmmjaycee
White Belt
Joined: 20 Aug 2004
Posts: 23
Location: east anglia UK
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LGTilley
Yellow Belt
Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 89
Location: Rugby, Warwickshire
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 1:38 am Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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| Yes, that looks very like it. I think you're correct. Thanks all. |
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jevs
Yellow Belt
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 54
Location: Lewes, East Sussex
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 3:05 am Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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I have a lovely bonsai with very similar leaves and i was told it could be a thornless hawthorn. None of the tree experts at work could ID it.
I'll try to get a pic later.
Andy |
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Dick
Black Belt
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 8828
Location: Western New York State, USA - Zone 4b
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 5:19 am Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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| I don't think it's an arctic birch. And I've never heard or seen a completely thornless hawthorn. |
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mmmjaycee
White Belt
Joined: 20 Aug 2004
Posts: 23
Location: east anglia UK
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| Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 3:02 pm Post subject: Re: Mystery Tree |
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| Dick wrote: |
| I don't think it's an arctic birch. And I've never heard or seen a completely thornless hawthorn. |
The jury is still out then Do you favour the Beech then Dick ?
I will get a picture of my Artic Birch and post a link for comparison. |
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