tree ID (1 Viewer)

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Oct 9, 2005

• #1

There's a small tree near us which is about 15 feet high and with a spread of perhaps 18 feet. The trunk divides almost at ground level. Can anyone ID it from the attached pics? The underside of the leaves is paler than the upperside but not whitish.
(I am trying to ID a moth which had mined some of the leaves so the first step is to ID the tree.)
Thanks,
Ken

 

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Tinca

2 kids max please

• Oct 9, 2005

• #2

Hello there surreybirder,youve got me puzzled on this one.My first thought was Almond,Prunus dulcis but the almost ground level branching suggests not.Next possibility is the Snowbell tree,Styrax japonica ,hard to tell from the images though.Can you recall any bark characteristics?

Magnified the full tree image and i think neither of the above are correct,im getting my books out!

The bark looks reddish at the base,this suggests a cherry var' but leaves seem more Spindle,Euonymus .Hopefully someone with more knowledge will happen along and put us both out of our misery!

 

Last edited: Oct 9, 2005

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Oct 9, 2005

• #3

Thanks for trying, Tinca.
The bark appears pretty smoth in the pic. I thought that cherry tended to have quite a noticeable texture?
I've tried to blow up the bit showing the trunk in case it helps.
Ken

 

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Y

Yaffle

Well-known member

• Oct 9, 2005

• #4

Surreybirder said:

Thanks for trying, Tinca.
The bark appears pretty smoth in the pic. I thought that cherry tended to have quite a noticeable texture?
I've tried to blow up the bit showing the trunk in case it helps.
Ken

Click to expand...

Possibly Grey Willow (Salix cinerea)?

Yaffle

 

Tinca

2 kids max please

• Oct 10, 2005

• #5

Yaffle said:

Possibly Grey Willow (Salix cinerea)?

Yaffle

Click to expand...

Thx yaffle,i think you are spot on.It was nagging me all night!Knew i'd seen this or similar leaved shrubby tree,DOH! just about expresses how i feel. :brains:

Could this pin down your moth surreybirder?The ancient entomologist's posts have had me fascinated lately and i profess an awakening interest in the wee things that crawl and fly.

 

Last edited: Oct 10, 2005

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Oct 10, 2005

• #6

Thanks Yaffle and Tinca.
It's a bit of a puzzle. I may have to come back to you on what species it is.
Ken

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Oct 10, 2005

• #7

Definitely a Willow, Genus Salix... But that could become tough there, as there are lots of hybrids and the species in themselves are quite variable...

Jörn

 

Silver

Registered Sane

• Oct 10, 2005

• #8

Joern Lehmhus said:

Definitely a Willow, Genus Salix... But that could become tough there, as there are lots of hybrids and the species in themselves are quite variable...

Jörn

Click to expand...

This is definitely Grey Willow or Common Sallow (whichever name you prefer), Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia.
Also formerly called Salix atrocinerea.

Ken, your photograph even shows the rusty hairs on the underside of the leaf, which help confirm the subspecies as well as the species.

As Joern says, there is much hybridisation in Salix and S. cinerea plays its full part. In some parts of the country, Salix aurita x cinerea is more common than either of its parents. However, Ken's photographs of the leaves suggest that this is good, pure S. cinerea.

A true native, of course, which is more than is certain for a number of willows.

Alan

 

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Oct 10, 2005

• #9

Thanks, Alan. I'm impressed!
Ken

 

Silver

Registered Sane

• Oct 10, 2005

• #10

Surreybirder said:

Thanks, Alan. I'm impressed!
Ken

Click to expand...

It's good to see a set of photographs showing all the right features!

I hope you get the moth ID now.

Alan

 

Surreybirder

Ken Noble

• Oct 10, 2005

• #11

Silver said:

It's good to see a set of photographs showing all the right features!

I hope you get the moth ID now.

Alan

Click to expand...

Nothing is ever straight forward. I sent the leaf-mine to my county recorder. I need him to confirm that it is from the same tree (I think it is). The genus of moth in question is not supposed to occur on willow sp. Where will it end?
At least I should be able to recognise a sallow in future
Ken