shrub / tree identification

 


hi i really need to find out what this shrub or tree is, as it has mould
on it that probably wants treating. i'll describe it and link 3 photo's
from photobucket (hope that's allowed).

firstly i live in surrey. the soil is clay but well mixed now. the
shrub is about 5 ft high, round in form with grey / brown smooth bark.
the buds are very small and staggered as opposed to pairs, and there
are no leaves on it at this time. on the end of each branch there is a
group of brown open seed pods. the fungi is clustered on the lower
branches and looks like white/pale cyan granules.

i've taken a pic of the tree, the pods and the fungus or whatever it
is

http://tinyurl.com/29ej9r

http://tinyurl.com/22c58j

http://tinyurl.com/2ghxb2

i hope they work. failing that, does anyone know of an online plant
finder?
thanks




--
lowlife

 


With alternate foliage and 5-loculate capsular fruits it could be
Hibiscus syriacus. (H. syriacus doesn't usually fruit in my neck of the
woods, but there's a plant in the town centre with similar looking
fruits, that if I recall correctly is H. syriacus.)

You don't happen to remember what the foliage or flowers look like?

For a selection of pictures of H. syriacus see

     http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Hibiscus/galleryH.html

 From where I sit the fungus look liked lichen, which is harmless, but
it's easy to misinterpret a photograph.

Stewart Robert Hinsley

 

On 23/1/07 20:42, in article vWuAvxjHNntFFwT3@meden.invalid, "Stewart Robert


We think the pods are too pointed for that and Ray suggests Pseudocamellia
stewartia in which the seed pod is very hard.  If it's Fremontodendron we'd
expect it to have foliage on still but you never know!  Their seed pods are
furry and quite soft.

It's almost certainly lichen and will do the plant no harm, so can be safely
left alone.  It's a sign of clean air and low pollution, so is to be
welcomed.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

 


I don't know Pseudocamellia stewartia. I'm interpreting the photo as
showing a capsule with 5 locules which have separated, so the capsule as
a whole is quite blunt. I would also interpret the capsule as being
chartaceous (parchment-like) rather than woody. A photograph of the
innards of the capsule might assist identification.

I'm sure that it's not Fremontodendron - there's no sign of the fuzz on
the fruit, and I think the OP would have noticed it elsewhere. I never
got seed out of a Fremontodendron, but the mature fruits of
Fremontodendron are quite hard. Also to describe the Fremontodendron as
furry might lead people astray - the seed hairs are quite stiff -
they're not as bad as cacti, at least not being hooked, but they're
quite capable of penetrating skin. The hairs on other parts of the plant
are irritant.

     http://www.malvaceae.info/Genera/Fremontodendreae/CalGlory.html
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

 

On 23/1/07 23:41, in article QLZfYova0ptFFwUh@meden.invalid, "Stewart Robert

<snip>

Fremontodendron pod:
http://tinyurl.com/2h9hcn
(as I said, we think that's unlikely, if only because of the lack of leaves
on the plant)

I can't find a pic of the seed pod of the Stewartia.  The plant is unusual
but not rare.  The OP didn't give any description of a flower, so I'm
assuming he hasn't seen one yet but obviously that would help a lot.
Perhaps a neighbour would know?

In the pic of the seed pods they look as if they've been hanging around for
a long time and so are rather dried out.  It would be interesting to know
what they look like when fresh.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)