Mystery tree needs a name.

Discussion in 'Trees, Shrubs and Roses' started by eileen, Sep 18, 2013.

  1. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Can anyone help me to ID this tree please?
    When you cut off a branch the inside is bright yellow.


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    Thanking you all in advance.
     
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  3. waretrop

    waretrop Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    Looks like it's in the Legume family. Has it ever had seed pods and were they small or large??
     
  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I haven't a clue Barb as my daughter wanted me to ask if anyone knew what it was. It is tall with a slender trunk but that's all I can tell you I'm afraid.
     
  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Are the flowers yellow, and present in the spring?
     



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  6. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Just a wild guess here Eileen ... it reminds me of a Black Walnut.
     
  7. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Sjoerd I really haven't a clue as my daughter took the photograph in a garden she was working in. It's the first time she's seen the tree so neither of us know much about it.

    Netty I'll go and read about Black walnut. Thanks for your reply.
     
  8. calinromania

    calinromania Young Pine

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    Looks like some kind of Mahonia from this angle.

    Maybe you can take a pic from ABOVE leaves, or is it too tall?
     
  9. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    Mahonia ... now that's a good guess! May well be ...
     
  10. waretrop

    waretrop Strong Ash Plants Contributor

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    eileen, Go find out if this plant has very hard leathery leaves with points on the edges that HURT allot.
     
  11. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    My mahonia doesn't have bright yellow wood under the bark so it can't be that. The wood is so bright that it's almost fluorescent.
    I'll try to get my daughter to take more pictures the next time she's doing her client's garden.
     
  12. sgmgarden

    sgmgarden In Flower

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    I'm intrigued now to find out what this is Eileen. Be sure to let us know :D
     
  13. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Many thanks Calinromania and Netty. :kiss: You set me on the right track mentioning Mahonia. I have now discovered that Mahonia 'Charity' has the bright yellow wood so now the mystery is solved. :D

    Thanks to everyone else who tried to help me ID this tree. I knew my fellow Stewbies would come good for me. :-D
     
  14. calinromania

    calinromania Young Pine

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    Welcome!
    I also remember some bright yellow sap when I trimmed some of my mahonia bushes...
    And the leaf shape pointed me in that direction!
    Glad we could help!
     
  15. Kiasmum

    Kiasmum In Flower

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    I remember the exceedingly sharp points on those leaves and having to get one out of our dogs paw :eek: That the the main reason we got rid of ours at the earliest opportunity
     

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