Owner: Exploring the World of Trees URL:http://tree-species.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:27:41 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A collection of images and observations about a wide variety of tree species Site statistics:Click here
Carob tree - Ceratonia siliqua 2008-04-20 05:05:00 The Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) is best known for its edible seeds that are used, among other things, as a chocolate substitute. It is a tree that grows well in dry climates, which would explain its relative abundance in Southern Spain were the Carob tree and the Holm Oak can be found on most "fincas" (small farms or country houses). The images I have used in this post are from several trees not far from my home.The leaves of the Carob tree are even-pinnately compound with the individual leaflets being slightly oblong with a round base and about two inches in length. The venation is pinnate.The seedpods of the Carob tree look a lot like green-beans. Before they turn ripe they are bright, shinny green and measure about 5-7 inches in length. When ripe they darken to almost pure black
Ginkgo petrified forest - Vantage Washington 2008-04-17 02:33:00 While driving across Washington
State recently I came across a sign that read "Ginkgo Petrified Forest - Next Exit". Seeing as I was in the most barren, dry and otherwise rather unbecoming area of the state you can imagine how the sign caught my eye. I had a bit of time to kill so I decided to take the exit and check out this "Petrified Forest" at Vantage
Washington. I was interested not only in the "petrified" part but also in the "Ginkgo" part. I have profiled the Ginkgo tree and I was rather curious to see a petrified forest of them. (Ginkgos are a very rare species of tree that are only found growing wild in a small area of China. )About three miles of the freeway I came across the "interpretive trail". Still no trees in sight, not even logs or any evidence of a "petrified forest"
Persian Silk Tree - Albizia julibrissin 2008-04-15 08:36:00 The Persian
Silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a small tree native to a broad region that extends from Iran all the way to Japan. This trees name comes from its delicate and colorful flowers that look like little puff balls.I´m not sure how large this tree species can grow but all the trees that I have seen (it is a very commonly planted tree in Spain) have been on the small side not more than 10-12 feet tall. This makes it an ideal tree for gardens as an ornamental tree.The leaves of the Persian Silk tree (sometimes just called "silktree") are bipinnately compound and have a close resemblance to many acacias although they are not related at all.The seed pods of this tree species are so thin that they are translucent allowing one to make out the silhouette of the seeds on the inside. T
Complete index of trees profiled 2008-04-15 04:24:00 The following is a list of all the trees that I have profiled to date. I update this post each time I add a new tree so don´t give too much credence to the date. I have listed the trees by their common names in alphabetical order and each name is also a link to the post about that tree species. Each post consists of a series of images that will help identify the tree as well as some observations that I have made about the tree and the location where the pictures were taken.Aleppo pineAtlas CedarAustralian silver-oakAvocado treeBanyan treesBlue JacarandaBottlebrush treeBush KurrajongCanary Island PalmCanary Island PineCarob treeCedar of LebanonCeiba pubifloraCherry BlossomsChinese fan palmCoastal RedwoodCockspur Coral treeCommon Horse ChestnutDate PalmDragon´s blood treeEucalyptus fic
Canary Island Date Palm - Phoenix canariensis 2008-04-12 11:40:00 The CanaryIsland
Date Palm (Phoenix
canariensis) is quite similar to the True Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) except that its trunk is thicker, its dates (fruit) are smaller and its top tends to be bushier (more fronds). While its dates are reputed to be edible their small size (not much there to eat) make this palm tree not commercially viable. It is however valued as an ornamental palm species for park, gardens and avenues.Seeds can be purchased at rarepalmseeds.comThe fruits (dates) of the Canary Island Palm are about the size of olives or large grapes (just under an inch long or 2cm). The hang in clusters with individual dates lined up along multiple strings that comprise the cluster.The leaves are long (12-20 inches) and quite pointy on the end. Towards the base of the frond the
Chinese Fan Palm - Livistona Chinensis 2008-04-11 05:41:00 The Chinese
fan palm is one of many palm tree species that are common in the south of Spain where I live. It is a popular palm for gardens for it ornamental value and moderate size. A great site for more information as well as seeds for this palm tree species is rarepalmseeds.comThe fruit of this palm tree is similar in size and shape to black olives or grapes. They hang in clusters of 50-100. Sometimes you have to get up close to see the fruit under the large fan type leaves of this palm tree.The leaves are about 3-4 feet across and have thin pointy "fingers" that droop down creating an interesting ornamental effect. The trunk of this palm is not as thick as most. The palm in this picture had a trunk that was about 6-8 inches in diameter.
Australian Silver Oak - Grevillea Robusta 2008-04-10 06:41:00 The AustralianSilver
-oak tree (Grevillea robusta) is, as you can infer from its name, native to Australia. Although it is called by term "Oak" it is not really a true Oak in that it is not a member of the quercus genus. Or put more simply it is not a tree that produces acorns.It is, none the less, a very beautiful and interesting tree in its own right. There are three things about this tree that really stand out to me; its bright yellow and red flowers, its dramatic leaves and it curious little seed pods. The images above and below were taken of a tree not far from my home in Malaga, Spain just when the flowers were beginning to unfold.On some of the trees the branches have so many flowers that the tree itself takes on a yellow and red flame color.The little black seed capsules are ab
Mexican blue palm - Brahea armata 2008-04-08 08:57:00 The first time I saw a Mexican
Blue Palm (Brahea armata) in flower (inflorescences) I was blown away by how far out and down from the head of the "tree" the flowers hung. As you can see from the image above some of them were hanging down a good 15 feet! A good site for more info on this palm is rarepalmseeds.com It is also a good source of palm seeds of many kinds.This particular tree in the "paseo del parque" of Malaga, Spain stands about 80 feet tall. In the image above the other palms behind the Mexican Blue Palm are Canary Island Date Palms. Also nearby are some true Date Palms. In the image below you can see what the hanging fruit looks like on a smaller palm.The leaves are fan like (with pronounced fingers) and on the palms that I have seen range from 2-4 feet wide on 2-4 foot lo
Lilac tree or small shrub - Syringa vulgaris 2008-04-07 04:20:00 The Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a small tree or shrub that is native to southeast Europe but is cultivated in many regions of the world. It is valued as an ornamental plant for its beautiful flowers and for the fragrance that the flowers emit when in bloom. These images were taken in Spain in Madrid (the white cultivar) and in Malaga (the lilac colored flowers). My roots herald from the city of Spokane Washington which is known as the "Lilac city". Every May there is a week long "Lilac Festival" with many activities including the "Armed Forces Torchlight Parade".There are many cultivars (varieties within the species or crosses between two related species) of Lilac that have different colored flowers. These white colored flowers come from the "Alba" cultivar. I found this particular tr
Himalayan Cedar tree - Cedrus deodara 2008-04-05 14:13:00 I found this HimalayanCedar
tree (Cedrus deodara) this morning in the "El Retiro" park of Madrid, Spain. The Retiro park is similar to the "Central Park" of New York City and is a paradise for arbourist and tree lovers. The Spanish name "Retiro" means retreat, so named because it is where many of Madrid´s local residents go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This morning was no exception, the park was full of people doing all sorts of activities as well as just relaxing. The Himalayan Cedar is one of the true cedars and is a close relative to the Cedar of Lebanon and the Atlas Cedar. It can be distinguished from these other two by the length of its leaves (up to 2 inches long) and by the number of leaves on reach "rosette" (12-15). Another distinguishing feature of the
Weeping Willow tree - Salix babylonica 2008-04-03 03:55:00 The weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is perhaps one of the most common trees to see in parks with ponds full of ducks and geese. I have fond memories of standing on the edge of a pond feeding the ducks and occasionally a large swan with a majestic Weeping Willow
tree on a small island as the backdrop. The image above is of a pond in Laurelhurst park in Portland, Oregon. The tall trees behind the Weeping Willow are Giant Sequoias.The image below is of a Weeping Willow in early spring before the green leaves appear. The smaller branches have a orange-yellow color that gives the Weeping Willow an interesting appearance even in Winter when it has no leaves. This particular tree is located in a park on the north side of Spokane Washington.The image below is of the new leaf buds along the
Ponderosa Pine tree - Pinus ponderosa 2008-04-02 13:40:00 I took these pictures of the Ponderosa Pine in a park on the north side of Spokane Washington near highway two as it head north-east towards Newport. Along one side of the park there was a stand of these tall pine trees and as the day was clear and sunny it was a great opportunity to get some good detail pictures of the cones and pine needles.The needles of this pine tree species are about 7-8 inches long (17-20cm). The seed cones are roundish and about 4 inches long. I would estimate that the trees in the picture above are about 100 feet tall.As can be seen in the image above the new seed cones are quite prickly as is the bark on the new branches. The bark on the main trunk has a puzzle like pattern.The seed cones grow two or three together at the same place on the branch and when the
Kafferboom tree - Erythrina caffra 2008-04-01 08:57:00 The Kafferboom tree (Erythrina caffra) is one of the family of trees often referred to as "coral trees". It is valued as an ornamental for its bright red dramatic flowers.The new branches of the Kafferboom tree have small, sharp thorns similar to those of a rosebush. As the branches age and grow these thorns wear off. The image below illustrates the texture and color of the mature bark.As the deep red leaflets develop and form they gradually unfold forward until all of the individual petals are fully formed. A great site to learn more about Coral trees is... leaves are trifoliate (three leaflets) with a ovate shape. They have a rounded base, an acuminate tip and and entire margin. The venation is arcuate and the leaf color is light green.The seed pods of this species of coral tree ha
Coastal Redwood tree - Sequoia sempervirens 2008-03-29 05:54:00 The main claim to fame for the Coastal
Redwood (also called the California Redwood) is that it is the tallest tree species in the world, with the tallest actual tree being 379 feet tall. This tree species should not be confused with the Giant Sequoia, which is the largest (by volume) tree species in the world. Both the Coastal Redwood and the Giant Sequoia are native to the Pacific coast of North American in California and Oregon.The seed cone of the Coastal redwood is quite a bit smaller than its Giant Sequoia counterpart measuring about 2 cm long (just under one inch). The cone has a similar look to those of the Cypress Sempervirens.The "leaves" of the Coastal Redwood are very different from those of the Giant Sequoia. They are needle-like and flat, measuring about half an inch long.
Cherry tree blossoms in full bloom - Laurelhurst park 2008-03-28 15:09:00 This is the time of year when Cherry
trees burst into full color with their extravagant blossoms. In some countries, such as Japan and China, observing Cherry trees in bloom is almost a national pastime. These images come from a Cherry tree that I found a few weeks ago in Laurelhust park (Portland Oregen).The day was a bit overcast and it was about an hour and a half before sunset so the sunlight was not overhead. The tree was also shaded by some rather large Sequoias and Douglas fir tree which made for a pretty soft light.Portland, Oregon has a number of great park similar to Laurelhurst of which my favorite is Mount Tabor park, located near 60th and Yamhill in southeast Portland. Read more:full bloom
Yakusugi Cedar - Cryptomeria japonica 2008-03-26 15:38:00 The Cryptomeria japonica is an evergreen tree native to Japan where there are many very old examples of this species that are revered as sacred trees. I found this tree however in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) in Stanley Park. Most of this park is virgin old growth timber but on one side of the park (the part closest to the city) there is a section where a good many exotic species of trees were planted long enough ago that they are now very large.I was at first quite puzzle by this tree as it looked very different from any other evergreen I had seen before. A gardener was working nearby and upon inquiring about the tree we found out its scientific name.As you can see from the pictures this tree was loaded with both pollen and seed cones.I believe the name "Yakusugi" comes from th Read more:Cedar
Atlas Cedar - Cedrus atlantica 2008-03-25 07:35:00 A few weeks ago I was able to visit Stanley Park in Vancouver BC. While walking around the park I came across a large AtlasCedar
tree (above). A small label on the tree identified the species as "Cedrus atlantica". Some sources however classify this tree as a subspecies of the Cedar of Lebanon "Cedrus Libani var. atlantica".The image above illustrates how the short needles of the Atlas Cedar grow on small "rosettes" (small clusters of needles on the end of a short stem). It is very difficult to distinguish between this tree and its close cousin the Lebanese Cedar due to the fact that they have approximately the same number of needles per rosette and and the needles are the same length. The needle length is about 3/4 of an inch (2cm) with about 30 needles per rosette.The seed cones of
Huge Cedar Stump near I-5 north of Seattle Washington 2008-03-23 17:31:00 The following text is from the sign near this big Cedar
stump… Big Cedar Stump
This famous stump remains as evidence of the giant trees which once forested this aea. Over 20 feet in diameter and 200 feet tall, the huge “Western Redcedar” is believed to have been more than 1000 years old. Discovered by early settlers of the area, the following is a resume of its recorded history: 1893 – the stump was killed by a fire which started in its hollow base. 1916 – After the top was removed, Paul Wangsmo and Ole Rodway cut and chopped three spines from the core and cut archways through the stump. 1922 – After cutting the stump off at its base, Ole Reinseth and Slim Husby used horse teams to drag it north 150 yards where it was set on a concrete base. 1939 – the stump, by Read more:Washington
, Seattle
Western Redcedar - Thuja plicata 2008-03-22 15:10:00 The Western
Red cedar tree is what most people (at least in the Northwestern United States) refer to when they use the term "cedar". It is commonly used for fences and exterior siding because it can get wet without rotting.It leaves and wood have a fairly strong and distinct aroma. This may be the source of the name "cedar" as this aroma is similar to the aroma of the true cedars (ie. Cedar of Lebanon).I took the images in this post while on a recent trip to Washington state and Vancouver BC. The images above are from Berthusen Memorial Park in Lynden, Washington. The images of the two trees below are from Stanley park in Vancouver. I spent about four hours walking the trails of the park and observing the very large Western Red Cedars that can be seen throughout the park.Due to a rece
Giant Sequoia tree - Sequoiadendron giganteum 2008-03-10 16:33:00 This tree (above) is one of six Portland, Oregon Heritage trees of the Giant Sequoia species. It is located on the campus of Western Seminary at 55th and Hawthorne in Southeast Portland. It is over 100 feet tall and has a trunk circumference of 22 feet. In the nearby area around Mt. Tabor there are many more large specimens of the Giant Sequoia tree, some of which are also listed as Portland Heritage trees. They are not difficult to spot as they usually stand quite a bit taller than the trees around them. The ones that are easily accessible try the area around the water reservoirs on the west side of Mt. Tabor park.The image above shows the “cone” of the Giant Sequoia tree both as a green cone and also what it looks like when it is dried out and falls to the ground. These cones
Monkey Puzzle tree - Araucaria araucana 2008-03-06 14:05:00 The Monkey Puzzle
tree (Araucaria araucana) is a tree native to South America. It is one of the strangest and at the same time most interesting trees that you will find. It is in the same tree family as the Norfolk Island Pine, the Cook Pine and the Bunya Pine (the araucaria genus). The pictures of this tree were taken in Portland Oregon.The images below is of a small new Monkey-puzzle tree that has begun to grow underneath a fairly large mature tree. I am not sure if this new tree is a volunteer from one of the roots or if it is from a seed.The branches of this tree tend to break off right at the trunk after a number of years leaving only the branches towards the top of the tree still intact. When the trees are young this is not so noticeable but as the trees get on in years this habit gi
False Aralia tree - Schefflera elegantissima 2008-02-23 15:23:00 The observations in this post are from a number of adult “Shefflera elegantissima” trees in the city of Malaga. Most of the information that I have found on the internet related to this tree as a potted plant or indoor tree. The only thing I know about the use of this tree species as a potted plant is that the leaves are quite a bit different on young trees than they are on adult trees (see images below). The leaves of this tree are similar to in size and shape to those of the Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella tree) except that they have a pronounced serration and tend to be a bit darker tone of green. The flowers of the False Aralia are large and branch off into multiple clusters of little ball like blossoms, with 5-7 in each cluster. These little green balls then turn into
Aleppo Pine - Pinus halepensis 2008-02-21 15:33:00 Very close to where I live there is a "Parque Natural" (Like a national park) called "Montes de Málaga". Many years ago it was scarcely populated with Olive and Carob trees. In an effort to prevent flooding in the City of Málaga the hills were repopulated with Aleppo Pine trees and thus the Montes de Málaga Parque Natural was created.I´m not sure why this particular species of pine was chosen as it is not native to Spain. Nor does it seem to be reproducing naturally in the Montes de Málaga area. At any rate it is fairly well suited to the climate and has been effective in reducing the water runoff when heavy rains fall in the hills above Málaga.These pines do not seem to be of much value commercially as they do not grow very big or very straight. One of there chief qualities see
The Pecan tree - Carya illinoinensis 2008-02-19 10:06:00 The Pecan
tree (Carya illinoinensis) is native to North America. The pictures in this post are from a tree in the “Jardin Botanico-Historico, La Concepción” in Malaga, Spain. This tree species was brought to Europe by the Spanish explorer “Cabeza de Vaca” in the 16th century.This tree is the source of Pecan nuts which along with Pistachios are my favorite nuts. I am particularly fond of fresh home-made Pecan pie. My mother used to make one for me on my birthday.So you can image my delight when I found a Pecan tree with the nuts fully formed and ready for picking. I had always wanted to know what the tree was like and what the nut looked like before it is picked.These images illustrate what the nut looks like on the tree and also when they are opened. They are good eating raw
What are Banyan trees? 2008-02-15 13:59:00 The term “Banyan” is used to refer to several species of trees from the genus “ficus” (figs). The common trait that sets apart figs as Banyans is the ability to send down “aerial roots” from the main branches which in time grow into new trunks or merge with the main trunk creating a massive tangled bulk that can reach diameters up to 8 meters wide. The most common of these species is the Ficus benghalensis, called the Indian Banyan or Bengal Fig. The largest of these is found in India and has more than 2880 proproots that have formed new trunks! Another fig species that is often referred to as “Banyans” is Ficus Macrophylla which goes by the common name Moreton Bay Fig. The images in this post are of some large Moreton Bay figs that I photographed in the city of Malaga
Cork Oak Tree - Quercus suber 2008-04-25 08:52:00 The Cork Oak tree is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa and since I live in Spain I have seen a great many of these trees. The pictures from todays post were taken while on a hike to find the "Castaño Santo de Istán" (the Sacred Chestnut of Istan - a tree that is quite famous locally). Our adventure started in the coastal town of "San Pedro de Alcantara" which is just west of the city of "Marbella" on the Spanish Sun Coast. We took a very rugged dirt and rock road that started near a local golf course. After driving for about five miles we parked the car and proceeded on foot towards the renowned tree. On the way however we discovered that the area was mostly populated with Cork Oak trees much like the one in the image above.Virtually all of the Cork trees had had their
Where does cork come from? 2008-04-27 02:18:00 Have you ever wondered where cork comes from? It comes from the bark of the "Cork Oak tree" (tree species name - Quercus suber). The cork bark of this species of oak tree (yes it does produce acorns) can grow to become two to three inches thick. Normally however it is harvested when it is about one or one and a half inches thick. In the image above you can see several different layers of the bark, the result of being harvested several times.Only the bark on the main trunk and lower branches is harvested using special tools that peel off large sections of the outer bark without damaging the tree. What is left is the dark inner bark that you can see on the tree below. The bark takes about 7-10 years to grow back to a thickness that can be harvested again.The picture below is a piece of
Edible Sweet Chestnut tree - Castanea Sativa 2008-04-28 13:13:00 The SweetChestnut
is the tree that edible Chestnuts come from. The species name is "Castanea Sativa" and it is a tree that is native to Southern Europe. This tree should not be confused with the Common Horse Chestnut which has a similar shaped "fruit" that is NOT edible. The images in this blog post were taken at a very large Sweet Chestnut tree in Southern Spain that is called the "Castaño Santo de Istan". In the fourth image down in this post there is a picture of my son in the tree that gives an idea of its size.The leaves of the Sweet Chestnut are elliptical with serrate margins and pinnate venation. They measure about 5-7 inches long and about 2-3 inches wide. The edible part of the chestnut is enclosed in a "porky pine like" casing that splits open when mature revealing t Read more:Edible
Pomegranate - Punica granatum L. 2008-05-02 16:56:00 The Pomegranate
tree (Punica granatum L) is a fruit tree native to the near East (from Iran to North India). It is a small tree that often grows more like a large bush than a tree. It is valued not only as a fruit tree but also for its beautiful flowers that can range in color from red to white or a blend of the two.The fruit of the Pomegranate is round and about the size of a softball. It is green and red when mature and if left on the tree too long it will split open (if you look closely at the last image above you will see that it is split open along one side).Beneath about a 1/4 inch this outer husk the Pomegranate is filled with seeds (about a hundred) that are all encased in a pinkish colored, semi translucent material. These seeds are edible and for those who don´t mind ingesti
African Tulip Tree - Spathodea campanulata 2008-05-05 12:46:00 The African
Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) is a large evergreen tree native to central Africa. It is also known by the names Fountain Tree and Flame of the Forest. It is one of a handful of trees that are referred to as "flame" trees.This tree species is widely planted (where the climate permits) as an ornamental tree for ornate bell shaped flowers that are a combination of red, orange and yellow. Seeing as most of the flowers were pretty high up in the tree I tried to get as good a picture as possible of one that I found laying on the ground.This particular tree is the only one that I have seen of this species and is located in a park in central Malaga that the locals refer to as the "paseo del parque". While this park is not known as a botanical garden it has just as many species
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