Can you name this tree please

[John Forrest]

I took this picture in the local park and I have been trying to think of its name for ages but can't bring it to mind. can anybody put me out of my misery?

[mark smyth]

Beech.

[Carlo]

John,

Just a guess from the picture...but I'd say you're looking at the male flowers of a beech...Fagus such-or-other...

[Martin Baxendale]

Or hornbeam?

[Paddy Tobin]

I'd go with beech also, perhaps the purple beech as there seems to be a hint of purple in the leaves. Not hornbeam, I think, as the hornbeam has those 'honesty - type' seedheads.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

I'd say Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea').

[Paddy Tobin]

Of course, Anthony. Forgive  my 'senior' moment.

Paddy

[John Forrest]

Copper Beech wins the prize Anthony. Talk about senior moments Paddy, mine seem to be streching into senior hours or even days. Of all the millions of times I have seen copper beech, I can honestly say that I have never noticed the flowers. Just shows what taking photographs does to focus the attention (if not the mind  )

[Anthony Darby]

Funny you should say that John. Neither have I. Must go and have a look.

I have some seedlings coming up in pots, but one labelled Quercus coccinea (Kermes Oak) I had to check because it looks even more like a holly than its parent! Definitely growing from an acorn though.

[Paddy Tobin]

John,

Your comment about photography and focusing one's attention is so very true. On many, many occasions I have been amazed by what I have noticed about a well-known plant while taking a photograph. Photography involves careful looking in order to record the picture and it really does make us look more closely at things. And very ofter I have found that it was when viewing the photograph later that I might notice the something previously unnoticed.

I heard a comment on memory and advancing years on the radio recently which said that our memories do not decline with the advance of years; we forgot just as much when young but now we notice that we forget things. It's all a matter of perception.

Paddy

[John Forrest]

Unfortunately one of the main things I notice are the aphids on my plants that I can no longer see without my specs.
That's a very positive view of memory Paddy, I shall quote it (if I can remember)

[Gene Mirro]

Anthony, Kermes Oak is Quercus coccifera.  Scarlet Oak is Quercus coccinea.  Scarlet Oaks are one of my favorite trees, especially if you can get the dark burgundy red foliage color in the Fall.  Not all of them will color that way.