Trees in parks and gardens 2010

[Paddy Tobin]

Great trees here. I've been away on holidays - lots of fabulous trees and must post a few photographs when I recover.

Just to mention: While away a copy of Hugh Johnson's "Trees" arrived in the post. I have only had a flick through it but it looks wonderful.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

It has just struck me as an afterthought that it is here on this thread that I would get an identification for a tree which has puzzled me all day long. I have been looking at various websites in an effort to identify it but have failed so far.

The photograph was taken last week in Madeira in Quinta Magnolia (rubbish garden!) and I didn't see this tree growing anywhere else on the island. The flower cluster hangs down on a tendril about a metre or so in length as does the extraordinary fruit. The fruit itself is about 30cm long.

Any suggestions on a name? This isn't a puzzle, by the way, as I haven't a notion of the name of the tree, just hoping one of you might have come across it previously.

Paddy

[Calvin Becker]

Sausage tree (Kigelia africana)? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigelia

[Paddy Tobin]

That's the one, Calvin. I've looked at a few other sites, Kew Gardens site is interesting, and it seems to be a very interesting tree. The Kew site mentions that the "sausages" can weigh up to 12 kilos. I also came on advise that one should not park one's car underneath - a sensible precaution.

Many thanks, Paddy. I must try you with another!

[Paddy Tobin]

OK Calvin, Here's another one which puzzled me. I think I have come across this tree before, in La Mortella on the island of Ischia in Italy, but don't believe I managed to identify it then. It wasn't in flower when I saw it in Italy and it was the peculiar bark which caught my eye. The bark has quite large thorns/spikes all over it and would certainly be a challenge to climb. I came across the tree in several places in Madeira but none was as large as the one I saw in La Mortella so the tree shown in the photo' here is not a mature specimen.

Paddy

[Gail]

Looks like a Chorisia (silk floss tree) Paddy, we admired them in Egypt but I think they are native to South America.

http://www.montosogardens.com/chorisia_speciosa.htm

[Hans A.]

Paddy, it is Ceiba speciosa (syn. Chorisia speciosa) from South America. Impressive trees, often with many (and large) thorns at the trunk - more often planted is the pink flowering C.speciosa - rarer the yellow C. insignis.

[Paddy Tobin]

This is a great response! Many thanks, indeed to both Gail and Hans for such speedy replies and identification. It is a beautiful tree, fabulous flowers and interesting spikes. I wonder what is the reason for the spikes. Could it have been an evolutionary development to protect the tree from grazing?

Hans, I believe I may have seen C. insignis also but am not sure. I'll have to check back over my photographs.

Many thank, Paddy

[TheOnionMan]

Paddy, it is Ceiba speciosa (syn. Chorisia speciosa) from South America. Impressive trees, often with many (and large) thorns at the trunk - more often planted is the pink flowering C.speciosa - rarer the yellow C. insignis.

Wow, those aren't merely spines, but look more like rhinoceros tusks!

[Calvin Becker]

That's the one, Calvin. I've looked at a few other sites, Kew Gardens site is interesting, and it seems to be a very interesting tree. The Kew site mentions that the "sausages" can weigh up to 12 kilos. I also came on advise that one should not park one's car underneath - a sensible precaution.

A stand for too long under one!

[Paddy Tobin]

So, one of these trees is dangerous to stand under and the other is certainly not suitable for leaning against. Quite a pair!

Re the Chorisia: where does the "Silk Floss Tree" name come from, does anyone know?

Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Since I didn't know the tree at all I went searching thorugh the books when y it was identified, Paddy.... found out that the Silk floss part refers to the fluffy cottony substance which is found inside the seed pods.... used, it seems as a kapok substitute.......

[cohan]

the ceibas are popular with collectors of 'fat plants' and xerophytic trees, i have friends growing them as pot plants, and in the ground where its warm enough!

[Paddy Tobin]

Here is a photograph of a spectacular Liriodendron tulipifera growing at Quinta Palheiro (sometimes known as the "Blandy Gardens") in Madeira. I have adjusted the balance between light and shade in the shot so that you will be able to pick out Mary who is standing under the tree to give you a sense of scale so that you can get an idea of just how huge this tree was. It was difficult to get a shot of it and I had to walk around for a while to get a view where I was back far enough to get the entire tree in shot and yet not have another tree in the way. I'm afraid I can only imagine the magnificence of this tree in flower. It must be an astonishing beauty.

Paddy

[Paddy Tobin]

You know the phrase, "if it were a dog, it would have bitten me on the nose". Well, this tree was a case in point. We were walking about and Mary asked if I could smell mothballs. These are probably no longer available but readers of my age will certainly remember them being used in wardrobes to ward off moths and the distinctive smell of camphor they exuded.

Although we could get the smell, we couldn't spy it source. Eventually we came on this camphor tree, an enormous specimen, and the smell on the crushed young leaves was so beautifully refreshing. The smell was in the air as much as 100 metres from the tree and seemed to give the air in the garden a lovely freshness. It was an enormous tree and in perfect health, a wonderful specimen. Great to see such great trees.

Paddy