skip to main content

Can you id this fruit from central London?

12 years ago

Any ideas? This fruit was found on the pavement near Sloane Street, central London. It comes from a row of street trees which were about the same habit and height as the nearby young plane trees. But the bark was different: uniform grey with gentle ridges somewhere between a Tilia and a young Quercus. The fruit above my head vaguely resembled the balls of a plane tree but as you can see were much spikier. They were closely attached to the twigs without long stems. This is the only one I could find and I think it has been stepped on. There are cup shaped depressions where a seed or nut appears to have fallen out. The nearest I can find is Liquidambar sp but the ribbon-like parts seem too long. The fruit is softly stiff, like a dried cobnut husk, not hard and spiky like a conker. It reminds me very vaguely of a rambutan. Sorry, no leaves in February and no dried leaves since this was on a street. This is not a British native, nor a common street tree. I could not find it on the Kew tree id app. Since it was in Central London, which has a warmer micro climate, it might not be hardy in most of the UK. No camera with me at the time so, sadly, no further pictures available.

Cup shaped depression:

{{gwi:333179}}

Short stem:

{{gwi:333181}}

'Back' ? of fruit cluster:

{{gwi:333182}}

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

georgeinbandonoregon
12 years ago
turkish hazel---corylus colurna?
denninmi
12 years ago
Ding, ding, ding, I think we have a winner.

I think it definitely could be the fruit of Turkish Hazel.

I did a google search, clicked on images, and I see quite a few of the fruiting clusters that look about like the above, albeit a little less weather beaten. There does seem to be some variability in the number of "spikes" coming out. But, in the first image Flora posted, you can clearly see where a nut was attached, IMHO.

I would have posted a link to the search result, but there were some rather strange images brought up that appeared to have more to do with the human trafficking industry, perhaps, than with botany, so I'll just post this one link, it's easy to do a search for more results.

Here is a link that might be useful: Image of a ripe fruiting body of Turkish Tree Hazel
Related Discussions
Places to buy fruit trees/Cocktail Citrus trees in Central Florid
Q
Comments (1)
There 3 on right in this link Orlando and Kissimmee Fla. Here is a link that might be useful: Cocktail Citrus trees
...See More
Shrub ID (from London), please
Q
Comments (2)
PS - Though the bloom colors are similiar, it's not a lilac. It didn't have much of a scent, and its leaves are much smaller but hardier than those of a lilac.
...See More
Places to buy fruit trees/Cocktail Citrus trees in Central Florid
Q
Comments (8)
There's a place in Lake Wales (appx. 10-15) miles from Winter Haven called McGill Citrus Nursery...google them and call ahead to make sure they have the Citrus you are looking for. I purchased a very healthy Dancy tangerine from them several months ago... I've never been but there's one in Winter Haven called Rasnake Citrus Nursery And Hickory Hills Citrus Nursery in Lake Wales...call them before hand to make sure they are still around :o) Oh one more thing if you drive south of Winter Haven to Sebring ( less than an hour) one way there are a couple of nice nurseries that sell Fruit and Citrus trees...Robbins Nursery and Lords Farm Nursery... This post was edited by puglvr1 on Sun, Jun 15, 14 at 9:03
...See More
How many fruit you get from yr container fruit tree?
Q
Comments (9)
Hello Folks: The amount of fruit that one can expect from a container fruit tree varies greatly on a wide range of factors. However, there are definitely some trees that are better suited for container growing than others. Here are my experiences: 1. Makok sapodilla: This is the king of my containerized bunch. It currently has over 200 fruits that will weigh around 3 ounces each, that is (3*200)/16=37.5 lbs of fruit in a 30 gallon pot. I have not taken an official count yet, but it already produced a boat load last year in a 12 gallon pot. 2. Seedling Limequat: For sure a good producer (most citrus are). My tree is in a 12 gallon pot and I've picked around 150 full size limes this year and it probably still has around 50 or so. I have not taken an official count of the Limes, but I'll probably do it next year, although is hard because this tree flowers and matures fruits throughout the year. 3. Barbados Cherries: I have two of these fruit trees and I love them. My Florida Sweet (12 gallon pot) fruited around eight times (from April to November) probably totaling 400 fruits or so. Definitely all of the vitamin C you could ever need for the year! 4. Seedling Toledo Mango: This guy is in an 18 gallon pot and he produced 27 mangos (variety very small, around three or four ounces per fruit). The tree is very large for the pot, but it has not massively flowered yet. The most it has had is five flower spikes. I'm hoping for a nice production this spring, maybe more like 100 mangos or so. 5. Pineapples: All a pineapple plant needs is a 5 gallon pot, lots of sun, some water and good fertilization and it will produce just as well as if it was in the ground. I have some potted pineapple plants sprinkled around the yard and they fruit every year with minimal care. You just have to make sure that they don't freeze in the winter and they stay growing constantly during the summer, you will get fruit. Considering the amount of care, the size of the plant, and how easy it is to get the planting material, pineapples probably give you the most fruit per quantity of effort/cost. 6. Tamarind, Avocado, Surinam cherry, no fruit yet, but some may come in the future. The tamarind had one fruit this year, but dropped it about two months ago. Bananas are too large and vigorous to properly fruit in containers that are manageable by a single person.
...See More
flora_uk
Original Author
12 years ago
Brilliant George! I thought of cobnuts but just couldn't square a Corylus tree of that size. I can't understand why they are not more widely grown. Maybe they need more summer heat than we can give them to fruit reliably. They were very shapely balanced trees and they must be a picture with their long catkins. There is also a red bracted form, Corylus colurna 'Te-Terra Red'. I wonder if that is what these were. I'll have to look if I'm ever on that street again. Thanks for solving the mystery so fast. I've found a link to a mention of them in London.

Here is a link that might be useful: Corylus colurna
pineresin
12 years ago
Yep, Turkish Hazel, very distinctive.

"... but just couldn't square a Corylus tree of that size. I can't understand why they are not more widely grown. Maybe they need more summer heat than we can give them to fruit reliably"

It can reach 30 metres tall, with a trunk a metre or more in diameter. It used to be rare, but has become very widely planted in the last 10-20 years or so in city centre planting schemes. It regularly produces fruit up here in northeastern England, so summer heat isn't restrictive, though I haven't yet succeeded in germinating a locally grown nut.

Fruit in late summer before maturity:
{{gwi:333183}}

Resin
sam_md
12 years ago
Flora, could you tell us what kind of lens you used for your pics?
flora_uk
Original Author
12 years ago
sam_md it's just an old Canon Ixus digital camera set to Macro. ie I know to click on the flower symbol and try to hold it steady. I know nothing at all about photography. As you can see the focus is rubbish mostly due to my awful eyesight.

Resin - thanks for the extra info. I emailed the tree people at Kensington and Chelsea planning department who told me "All of the street trees on Sloane Street from Brompton Road in the north to Sloane Square in the south are Turkish Hazel, Corylus colurna." I must visit again when they are in leaf. The road goes towards the venue for the Chelsea Flower Show so it's fitting that there are interesting trees. I have never seen one in my neck of the woods but maybe I have just been unobservant.

Related Stories

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: White and Bright Transformation of a Central London Loft

By Esther Hershcovich

See how this architect-photographer couple transformed their family’s home into an airy, contemporary space

REMODELING GUIDES See What You Can Learn From a Floor Plan

Floor plans are invaluable in designing a home, but they can leave regular homeowners flummoxed. Here's help

DECORATING GUIDES What We Can Learn From the Minimalists

Discover the power of simplicity and how to employ a less-is-more approach in your decorating scheme

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS Visit London’s Shed of the Year

By Luisa Rollenhagen

A modern Renaissance man carves out a multifunctional green oasis amid London’s urban whirl

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Grow Blueberries for Their Fruit and More

By Ellen Sousa/Turkey Hill Brook Farm

Eastern gardeners should consider growing blueberry plants for their delicious fruits, bee-friendly spring blooms and brilliant fall foliage

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

DECORATING GUIDES World of Design: Decorating Ideas From 10 Renters Around the Globe

Even if you don’t own your home, you can live beautifully. Browse these ideas from international tenants who’ve made their spaces special

HOMES AROUND THE WORLD Houzz Tour: A Bright and Open London Loft

A converted factory space benefits from abundant windows, a modified open-plan design and eclectic art and decor

Sponsored

Manifesto, Inc.

9 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 2x Best of Houzz Winner!

More Discussions

What do you think is wrong with my tree? And how can I save it?

9

Oh no, tree leader broken off

14

Our oak tree seems to be slowly dying, what can we do?

9

Does this crabapple require a professional trimmer?

1

Juniper virginians problem

6